Deidre Myers
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) works in troops throughout the State of Florida. In the areas of Madison and Jefferson Counties are troopers from Troop H. Most of the time, troopers from Troop H are assigned to cover emergency calls in Madison, Jefferson, Leon and Taylor Counties.
On Oct. 29, 2020, FHP troopers were dispatched to a vehicle wreck near mile marker 255 eastbound on Interstate 10, in Madison County. While working the crash, there was a spiral of other wrecks behind them near the mile marker 254 and 251. According to the FHP press release, there were five vehicles involved in the wreck at the 254 mile marker as a result of stopped traffic at the 255 mile marker.
The press release given by the FHP states that vehicle one was a semi-truck driven by a 33-year-old male from Land O’Lakes, Fla. Vehicle two was an SUV driven by a 53-year-old male from Saint Petersburg, Fla. with a 53-year-old female passenger also from Saint Petersburg, Fla. Vehicle three was an SUV with two occupants, a 39-year-old male driver and 40-year-old female passenger, both from Midland, Mich. Vehicle four was a truck driven by a 53-year-old Dwayne Greenhill from Fleming Island, Fla. Vehicle five was a semi driven by a 42-year-old male of Lakeland, Fla.
Traffic was stopped on Interstate 10 on that day due to a wreck in the median at the 255 mile marker. Vehicles two through five were stopped when vehicle one failed to stop in sufficient time. As a result, vehicle one hit the rear of vehicle two, throwing it into the inside eastbound lane where vehicle one continued to hit vehicle three and four. Vehicle one then hit vehicle four, which caused the front of vehicle four to hit the rear of vehicle five. After colliding with vehicle five, both vehicles one and four left the roadway an entered in to the south grass shoulder. Vehicle one and vehicle four caught fire entrapping Greenhill in his truck.
Trooper David Smith, Trooper Brian Clary and Trooper Chris Folsom were first on scene to the wreck. Out of instincts, all three troopers went to the aid of Greenhill. While the flames grew and the heat became unbearable, the troopers continued to free Greenhill from his vehicle so he didn’t perish in the rubble. The troopers stated the fire was so intense that their arm hairs had been burnt off.
Trooper Brian Lundy stated that he was about eight miles away from the wreck when he heard the call, but started driving as fast as he safely could to help. During his response, he could hear the troopers on scene calling over the radio begging for more fire extinguishers. As Trooper Lundy arrived, Greenhill was being pulled up the ditch where he was being assessed by Troopers Smith, Clary and Folsom until Madison County EMS arrived. Trooper Lundy recalls seeing the troopers covered in blood along with Greenhill, who had been severely burned. If it hadn’t been for the heroic actions of Trooper Smith, Trooper Clary and Trooper Folsom, Greenhill would not have survived. Greenhill was taken to a Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare by the ShandsCair helicopter for treatment.
Attorney General Ashley Moody presented Back the Blue Awards to FHP Troopers David Smith, Brian Clary, and Chris Folsom on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 for their life-saving actions. Attorney General Moody said in a press release, “I am so proud of the quick thinking and life-saving work of Troopers Brian Clary, Chris Folsom and David Smith at the scene of a traffic crash along I-10 in North Florida. These heroes know firsthand the many inherent dangers of responding to a traffic crash and the subsequent dangers of secondary collisions as a result. They did not allow the added personal dangers for everyone in the immediate area to deter them from attending to victims in need.”
It takes more than just courage to run to a burning vehicle without proper gear to save a total stranger. Law enforcement officers are more than just the ones who enforce the law. Running up to a burning vehicle and extricating a stranger without tools shows compassion and selflessness. On that day, a man survived a deadly crash because three strangers went above and beyond to serve and protect. Thank you, Troopers Smith, Clary and Folsom for your heroic actions and for risking your own lives to save another.
Shortly after Attorney General Ashley Moody took office, she launched the statewide Back the Blue Campaign. Moody made it a priority to highlight and promote the positivity of our law enforcement officers. The campaign is for citizens, organizations and law enforcement officers that take extraordinary steps to forge a positive relationship between local communities and law enforcement. Since taking office, Moody has issued over 30 Back the Blue Awards.