WASHINGTON - A District of Columbia National Guard Soldier’s quick thinking and training proved lifesaving when she rescued a teenage driver trapped in a car after a devastating crash near Annapolis, Maryland.
U.S. Army Spc. Ruth Arias, a military police officer with the 273rd Military Police Company, was heading home from work when she saw a car veer off the road, strike a pole and crash into the woods. What happened next was a testament to the Soldier’s readiness and courage.
“I pulled over immediately and got out of my car to help,” recalled Arias, who was in uniform.
Arias quickly assessed the situation. Smoke was rising from the vehicle and the driver appeared unconscious, slumped over the steering wheel. She and a bystander broke a car window to free the teen, who was bleeding profusely and suffering chest pain.
Arias said the car erupted into flames moments after she moved the driver to a nearby parking lot.
“It happened so quickly,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘What if we hadn’t gotten him out in time?’”
Drawing on her Army Combat Lifesaver Course experience, she stabilized the teen while waiting for emergency responders. Using a belt as a tourniquet, she stopped the bleeding and monitored his injuries.
“The training we receive in the Guard really came into play,” she said. “You learn to act quickly and use whatever resources are available to you. In that case it was a belt.”
The teenager survived — a fact that Arias attributes to her quick response.
“My goal that entire time was to keep the teen conscious and prevent further injury until the ambulance arrived,” she said.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Terry Macon, a Mississippi Army National Guard human resources technician stationed in the District, praised Arias’s actions.
“Her willingness to assist in such a dire moment shows the kind of person and Soldier she is,” he said. “She’s always willing to help and never backs down from a challenge.”
Having worked with Arias for a few years, Macon said he wasn’t surprised by her willingness to spring into action.
“She never backs down from a challenge and she’s always willing to grow and learn as not only a Soldier, but also as an individual.”
Arias credits the District of Columbia National Guard for preparing her to handle high-stress situations.
“We train for emergencies, but you never know when those skills will be needed in real life,” she said. “That day, it was about putting the mission first … and that mission was saving a life.”
While the teen’s name and condition remain private due to his age, his survival is a testament to Arias’s bravery and the National Guard’s commitment to being “Always Ready, Always There.”
“I was in the right place at the right time,” she reflected. “But more importantly, I was ready to act.”