Sgt. 1st Class Denize Engle responds to a question posed by a KSWO-TV reporter, about her role in responding to a vehicle accident July 16, 2020, on Interstate 44. Engle, an Advanced Leader Course instructor at the NCO Academy at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was on her way to morning PT and work when the accident occurred.

1st Lt. Caroline Negrete assisted with the care of an accident victim on Interstate 44 until emergency responders arrived. On her way to work, Negrete, the executive officer for C Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, saw a burst of fire caused by a cement truck impacting the median and bursting into flames. She credited Army training with keeping her calm to assess the accident scene and best decide how to help.

FORT SILL, Okla., July 30, 2020 -- Sgt. 1st Class Denize Engle, an Advanced Leader Course instructor here, engages the students in her class by asking them questions and encouraging them to think. She does this because she wants them to understand the course material that will help prepare them for greater responsibilities in their careers. She also does this because she cares. But then Engle said many who wear the Army uniform care.

“Our hats aren’t off when we are going home or heading to work. Our hats are always on to help anybody,” said Engle, who instructs at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

Traveling south on Interstate 44 on her way to physical training and work July 16, at 5:20 a.m., Engle’s day began with the usual routine of sips from a mug of coffee and a hands-free phone conversation with her mother-in-law.

But all that came to an abrupt halt when she saw a huge fire ahead, which prompted her to take her caring nature to a higher level.

Moments earlier, a northbound driver of a cement truck blew a tire and slammed into the median barrier. The momentum of the big truck caused it to flip over the divider and skid to a stop in the southbound lanes where it soon caught fire.

Fortunately for the driver, two civilians parked and quickly made their way to the truck freeing the injured man when Engle arrived. Assessing the scene, she spoke to the injured man to get a better idea of how she could help.

“The man was responsive so we sat him down beside  the freeway and asked him some questions to find out where he was hurting,” she said.

The question-and-answer session didn’t reveal any life-threatening injuries, but the man did complain of neck pain. Because he was in a safe, stable location and being observed by others, Engle sought to secure the accident scene. Walking back to her car, she grabbed her first aid kit and emergency warning triangles. She said a supervisor at her previous assignment in Germany required all Soldiers to carry these items in their vehicles and to be ready to use them if needed.

Engle said she and a couple other Soldiers began directing traffic after a few drivers passed by too closely to the accident scene. Eventually they managed to stop all motorists, providing emergency vehicles easier access.

As they quelled the traffic flow, 1st Lt. Caroline Negrete parked alongside the road and trotted up to the accident scene.

Serving as the executive officer for C Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, Negrete said medical emergencies are an unfortunate part of Basic Combat Training that battery personnel do their best to be prepared for in advance.

“Here in basic training we are very concerned about safety, and we make a point of going through medical training at least twice a year, if not more often,” she said.

Despite never being a first-responder to an accident before, Negrete’s training paid off.

“I do think the Army teaches you to stay calm and think through your procedures and any steps you can take to help the situation,” she said.

As Engle returned to the accident scene, the two women Soldiers ran through the steps training taught them to assess an injured or wounded person’s injuries.

However, their observations were interrupted by loud popping noises from the burning truck.

Though they were a safe distance away, the threat of a possible explosion prompted them to move the injured man further away.

“He couldn’t really walk a lot because he said his neck was hurting,” said Engle, who added the man voiced his pain with each step he took.

Putting enough additional distance between themselves and the burning hulk, the two women and others onsite helped the injured man to the ground and talked with him while staying vigilant for signs of shock.

“I had to stay calm for him, because he was kind of hysterical, kind of screaming,” said Engle. “He was really worried about his wife.”

Because of the man’s agitated state, they made a quick check of the truck and verified his wife wasn’t inside it.

Once the emergency responders arrived and took over care of the man, they released the caregivers.

Engle promptly called her mother-in-law to let her know she was OK. She also changed her driving habits and became more cautious.

Normalcy returned as both women continued on safely to work and set about their duties teaching and preparing young Soldiers to become tomorrow’s leaders.