THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407060122
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
AT NOON ON March 2, Joseph Howell and Lee Reed, a co-worker at Virginia Power, went out for lunch in separate vehicles, but what happened was anything but a restful break. En route, pouring rain hindered visibility. As he drove over the Gilmerton Bridge, Howell saw two damaged vehicles just off the roadway.
He didn't see the accident, but he did arrive just after impact.
Howell pulled off the road immediately.
``My only hesitation was a torrential rain storm,'' he said. ``You could hardly see before your eyes. In a matter of minutes, I was soaked.''
Within about two minutes, another man came from out of nowhere and offered his assistance.
Howell switched into his action mode.
``I did a quick evaluation and took the most serious situation first,'' said Howell, who lives in Chadwick Terrace. ``One woman was in the middle of the road. She was shook up but in pretty good shape.''
While Reed directed traffic around the accident, Howell diverted his attention to the red and white Chevrolet blazer, which was headed down an 8- to 10-foot embankment.
``The passenger was bleeding, but out of the vehicle and OK,'' said Howell, 42. ``But the driver had a fractured femur and was in a lot of pain.''
A decision had to be made. Howell knew that, normally, it would be better not to move the injured man.
``But the vehicle was burning,'' said Howell, who didn't know when the fire truck would arrive. So he made it a point to explain to the driver the extent of his injuries and the necessity of extracting him promptly from the vehicle.
``I got him over to the passenger's side of the vehicle,'' he said. ``Two or three people helped me get him out of the vehicle.''
They sought safety by moving up the embankment and about 50 feet away from the burning vehicle.
``The whole front seat was engulfed in flames before fire truck got there,'' said Howell, who still doesn't know who called 911.
``I talked to the patient and comforted him as much as possible,'' he said. The patient weighed about 280 pounds and was about 6 foot 2 inches tall. ``A hunk,'' said Howell, who referred to himself as a 6-footer.
The rescue took less than an hour. Howell says he ate in wet clothes, then went back to work.
Howell never heard from the man whose life he saved.
``I didn't expect a thank you,'' he said. ``I had the satisfaction of helping. I called the hospital and knew he came through surgery in good shape.''
But on June 22, Virginia Power acknowledged his efforts at the Chesapeake Energy Center. Family members and co-workers came together for a ceremony and luncheon in his honor.
``What Virginia Power does is recognize employees who do spontaneous things like this, who go above and beyond the ordinary citizen,'' said David Craymer, Chesapeake Energy Center manager. ``We recognize that action by giving the employee an Award of Valor plaque. And the employee's name is added to our corporate Award of Valor plaque.
``This was not the first time that Mr. Howell has been involved in something like this,'' Craymer said. ``In 1983, he was first on the scene of a school bus accident. He pried open the door of the bus, got the kids calmed down and helped one child, who was bleeding from the head, as well as others who had various injuries. When the ambulance arrived, he helped prepare the students to go to the hospital.''
``I'm surprised they gave it to me,'' Howell said.
Providing assistance really goes back to his days in the military.
``I was on search and rescue teams and a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam,'' he said. ``I seem to get into these situations. All my life I've done stuff like that. But I'm glad I'm there. Anytime I can help my fellow man or woman I'm glad.''
As the station safety and loss prevention coordinator, Howell is responsible for ensuring that Virginia Power safety programs and loss prevention programs are administered in compliance with regulations and company policies.
``I develop programs and interpret federal, state and local laws for compliance by station employees,'' said Howell.
The thing he most enjoys about his job is interacting with people. He especially likes the feeling that comes from doing something worthwhile to help people. During his tenure with Virginia Power, Howell has served as power plant operator and power plant electrician.
In his spare time, Howell enjoys woodworking.
``But mainly I'm preoccupied with sports; softball is probably the biggest one,'' said Howell, who plays on different teams in Chesapeake - the team for station employees and on the Christian Alliance Church team.
Two years ago, he was inducted into the Tidewater Softball Hall of Fame and can play most any position. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Joseph Howell was recognized by Virginia Power for his help at the
scene of an accident.
by CNB