LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Arkansas –
For Staff Sgt. Erik Hill, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron air propulsion maintenance crew chief, a routine trip home quickly turned into a crisis moment that tested his training and fortitude.
As Hill was driving home from work on State Highway 321 in Cabot, Arkansas, a motorcycle was suddenly cut off by a pickup truck, resulting in a violent collision. Hill watched in shock as the motorcyclist was thrown across the roadway and landed next to a ditch, where he was unresponsive and injured.
It’s not often that you witness a car accident, but when that moment came for Hill, he jumped into action without hesitation.
As he approached the accident scene, the truck driver pulled his vehicle off the road and helped him assist the injured motorcyclist. A woman in a car ahead of him called 911 and gave details of the accident.
“I saw cuts, lacerations, cuts and bruises, and his leg was not in a good position,” Hill said.
Hill quickly noticed the man’s serious injuries and began first aid.
In crisis situations, Hill says, it’s important to recognize your limits. Fortunately, an off-duty paramedic and another person arrived at the scene, and Hill used their medical expertise to stabilize the injured man.
“I knew where my education ended and hers began,” Hill said.
He then concentrated on managing the chaotic traffic and ensuring that emergency vehicles could arrive on the scene without delay.
“It was strangely controlled,” Hill said. “We both knew what we had to do.”
The teamwork between Hill and the paramedics, coupled with his quick thinking and leadership skills in traffic control, ensured a rapid and effective response.
The motorcyclist was eventually flown by helicopter to a hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a broken leg. Hill stayed at the scene to assist police and give his account of events. He later learned from a friend that the injured man was likely on the mend.
Despite the praise Hill received for his actions, he remains modest about his role in fighting the accident.
“I’m not a hero,” Hill said. “I didn’t want to be a bystander. Whether in uniform or not, it’s our responsibility to respond to other people’s concerns.”
Col. Marty Smith, commander of the 314th Airlift Wing, said when a crisis of any kind develops, most people instinctively run away, but there is always a unique group of people who run toward danger in such moments.
“It really reveals a person’s character when, in the middle of a firefight or during an explosion, they decide to meet the threat head-on,” Smith said. “That’s exactly what Staff Sgt. Hill demonstrated. He embodied the warrior spirit and showed the courage to do the right thing.”
Hill said his reaction to the incident was natural. He stressed the importance of training and preparation. He encourages others to act similarly in emergencies.
“Don’t be a bystander,” Hill said. “Call 911. Provide assistance. Do something.”
This wasn’t the first time he had faced a difficult situation – a previous encounter at a shooting range had tested his first aid skills and prepared him for moments like this.
“I think I was able to handle the situation more easily because I had reacted earlier,” Hill said.
Although it was not the first time he responded to a critical situation, Hill’s humility and commitment to helping others demonstrate a standard not only for those in uniform, but for everyone.
“The fact that you wear the uniform means you are responsible for the protection and care of all people,” Hill said. “I’m just saying, everyone, in uniform or not, has a job to do. It’s our responsibility as human beings.”
