Michigan Man Holds Patient Steady After Ambulance Crash

Anthony Boshoven was almost home when he saw the wreckage of an overturned ambulance on US-131 in Wayland, Michigan. Instead of driving past like dozens of others, he got off the freeway and turned back to help.

A pickup truck driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and struck the ambulance from behind, causing it to roll over. Two paramedics inside suffered injuries, and the patient they were transporting to Grand Rapids was in critical condition.

When Boshoven arrived, two other Good Samaritans were already helping the injured paramedics escape from the front of the ambulance. But inside the crumpled back of the vehicle, a patient on life support desperately needed help.

"Everything was smashed, and they were saying everything kind of got pulled out of her," Boshoven recalled. The impact had disconnected the woman's life support equipment, and paramedics were racing to reconnect it.

A newly arrived paramedic asked Boshoven to help stabilize the patient's stretcher, which had come loose in the crash. For several crucial minutes, Boshoven held the stretcher steady while medical professionals worked to save her life.

He stayed until additional first responders arrived and could take over. The patient was eventually airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries, while the two paramedics were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Sunny's Take

Boshoven credits the responding paramedic for keeping everyone focused under extreme pressure. "The real hero was the nurse that came in there and guided everybody in the right direction," he said.

The experience has stayed with him since that day. "Reliving it a little bit, it was pretty intense. I just wanted her to be okay," he explained.

What troubles Boshoven most is how many people drove past without stopping. He estimates 50 cars went by before only three people pulled over to help.

Would he do it again? Without hesitation. "Everybody should," Boshoven said. "Everybody should."

His simple act of turning around reminds us that heroism doesn't require special training, just the willingness to help when someone needs it most.