WASHINGTON – Soldiers from the Indiana National Guard assigned to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission rushed to aid a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the corner of 16th and V streets NW the evening of Feb. 2.
Indiana Guard members patrolling nearby witnessed the incident and immediately responded. Spc. William Morris, who is nearing completion of his nursing degree, treated the pedestrian using his military training and civilian education.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Adams said he saw a man running erratically and shouting before stepping into the intersection without checking for oncoming traffic.
Moments later, a vehicle struck the man, Adams said.
“We heard a loud impact — a sharp crack,” said Spc. Brenton Myers. “We immediately ran toward the scene.”
The impact was audible from half a block away, Adams said.
The Soldiers’ training kicked in instantly. As they sprinted toward the injured man, Myers dialed 911 and was on the phone with dispatch before they reached him. Once at his side, their movements were quick and coordinated.
“Bowlin and another Soldier began directing traffic,” Adams recalled. At the same time, “Morris checked the victim’s condition without moving him.”
Morris assessed the man’s airway, breathing and pulse.
“He was breathing and conscious but disoriented,” Morris said. When asked his name, the man gave multiple different answers and did not seem aware of where he was.
The driver stopped immediately and cooperated with the Soldiers’ instructions to move the vehicle safely to the side of the road.
Within minutes, additional support from their unit arrived and helped redirect traffic until fire and emergency medical personnel were on scene.
The injured man repeatedly tried to stand and run, falling several times. For his own safety, emergency medical personnel sedated him.
The unit’s medic, Spc. Jesus Herrera assisted the EMS crew by applying a cervical collar and checking the man’s pupils.
For the Soldiers, the response was instinctual.
“My first thought was, ‘This is real — I need to act,’” Morris said. “We were already moving before he hit the ground and training kicked in immediately.”
“None of us hesitated,” Adams said. “Securing the scene, calling 911, directing traffic. It all happened within about 30 seconds.”
“From my perspective, this was textbook scene management,” said 2nd Lt. Craig Schiesser, who also works in law enforcement as a civilian. “Clear communication, decisive leadership, and teamwork.”
The Feb. 2 collision reflects the type of incident the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission was established to address. The mission serves as a bridge between federal priorities and local action to curb hazards and help restore order.
For the Guard members and first responders involved, the incident reinforced their goal of making the District safer. It underscores the Guard’s dual mission — defending the nation while sharpening crisis-response skills to better serve the communities in which they live, work, and serve.