Captain Robert Thompson, Captain David Tallent, Van Anderson, Fire Chief Phil Hyman and Peter Baldschun, husband of the deceased driver and father of the child saved by Mr. Anderson.
photo by Bruce Garner
A horrific accident occurred on Saturday, Feb. 17, on Ochs Highway at the base of Lookout Mountain. An 18-wheeler hauling hazardous materials collided with three vehicles, resulting in two injuries and one fatality. Upon seeing the crash, eyewitnesses immediately began calling 911. The Chattanooga Fire Department, Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County EMS were dispatched to the scene. The truck had left the roadway and rolled over on top of a Toyota Tacoma, and it was threatening to continue to roll down the embankment.
Before first responders arrived on the scene, one citizen decided to take action. Van Anderson told reporters on Wednesday that he was in his St.
Elmo home when he and his wife heard the crash outside.
"When I went down to see if I could help the driver, I realized there was a car under the truck and I could hear a child cry," he said. "I just went down and luckily I was where I could get her out and bring her back to the street."
The child's mother, Mallory Baldschun, who was driving the pickup truck, was killed in the crash. Mr. Anderson said he was very sorry the child's mother did not survive, but he was glad he was able to get her child out of the truck.
On Wednesday, at the Chattanooga Fire Department's administration building, Fire Chief Phil Hyman presented a "Citizen Achievement Award" to Mr. Anderson.
"In a situation like that, civilians are not expected or encouraged to get involved in a rescue operation," said Chief Hyman. "The truck could have rolled over on top of him or some of the acid in that tank could have leaked out on him. But he didn't think of himself. He took action and got that child out of the truck. And for that reason, we want to recognize his heroic actions here today."
This was the wreck scene on Feb. 17, with the 18-wheeler off the road on its side. The pickup truck was underneath the 18-wheeler's tank
photo by