State trooper, visiting nurse save motorist’s life on I-65

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8787380-418/state-trooper-visiting-nurse-save-motorists-life-on-i-65.html

BY JAMES SCALZITTI Staff Reporter November 12, 2011 12:50PM

Hospital personnel credited the actions of an Indiana State Trooper and a Good Samaritan with saving the life of an allegedly drunk driver who lost control of his SUV and rolled over after striking a semi on I-65 near in northwest Indiana Saturday morning.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner driven by 39-year-old Paul Eger of Demotte, Ind., was heading south in the left lane of I-65 near the Lowell exit, when his vehicle drifted into the right lane sideswiping a semi-tractor trailer, according to Indiana State Police. snip

A witness told authorities that Eger was able to crawl out of the 4-Runner. Eger suffered a severed artery at the bottom of his right wrist. Indiana State Police Corporal Fred Blohm responded to the reported crash and a nurse from California applied pressure to the severed artery and subsequently applied a tourniquet until emergency medical help arrived.

As first aid was being administered, Eger made a spontaneous request for a “White Castle hamburger and a cigarette,” state police said.