FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- While traveling through North Spokane on Oct. 31, Senior Airman Joseph Parkman, a Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Specialist with the 336th Training Group’s-22 Training Squadron, spotted a potential drunk-driving incident and stepped in before it could have turned fatal.
“I was stopped at the intersection of West Indiana Avenue and North Washington Street,” Parkman said. “I noticed a pickup truck begin to drift into the intersection and into oncoming traffic. I saw the driver’s head bob and then he slumped forward. It was obvious he had lost consciousness.”
Parkman put his vehicle into park and approached the moving pickup, avoiding any oncoming traffic as he did so.
“I climbed onto the side runners and assessed the situation through the window,” Parkman explained. “I attempted to rouse the driver by pounding on the truck’s window and simultaneously tried to physically restrain the vehicle from moving further into traffic.”
Fortunately, Parkman was able to stop the vehicle from moving further into the intersection and called out to nearby bystanders to call 911 while another person came to assist him with diverting traffic. The vehicle was now blocking both the turning and left lanes when the driver started to regain consciousness.
“I asked the driver basic questions regarding his identity, location, recent alcohol consumption, and destination,” said Parkman. “His responses were slurred and difficult to understand. I informed the driver that we needed to get him out of the vehicle and, with his permission, enlisted the same bystander who was directing traffic to help me move the driver and safely extract him from the vehicle.”
Arm in arm, the two carried the man from his truck to a safer location. They moved the vehicle from the intersection, and after assessing the man’s immediate medical needs Parkman personally called 911 to provide medical updates on the situation.
According to Parkman, with a breath test of 0.344 blood alcohol content, EMS and Spokane Police Department determined the driver was extremely intoxicated.
“The involved driver was subsequently placed under arrest for DUI,” said Daniel Strassenberg, SPD public information officer. “Mr. Parkman’s actions were most appreciated as he prevented anything else from happening that day.”
Parkman explained that years of medical training including several levels of Tactical Combat Casualty Care, first aid and CPR as well as his experience in numerous medical exercises hosted by the 336 TRG helped prepare him for this moment. He stated that in this situation, his training instinctively took over and that the SERE career field has equipped him to think critically and respond effectively in dynamic situations.
“SrA Parkman acted instinctively and without hesitation to provide aid during an emergency. The 22 TRS strives to provide excellent survival training to the U.S. Air Force, it’s essential SERE Specialists know and understand how to act on that very training,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Burton, 22 TRS commander. “I am proud to know my Airmen are integrated throughout the local Spokane community and will step in when necessary.”