AN ARMY sergeant who rendered life-saving first aid to a female motor vehicle accident victim on the New England Highway north of Singleton has won a prestigious transport industry award for his heroic efforts.

Sgt Craig Smith, ALTC Puckapunyal, receives the Goodyear Highway Hero award. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper

Sgt Craig Smith, ALTC Puckapunyal, was conducting a driver training course when he and the driver of the rig were first at the scene of an accident involving a civilian motorist and an Army support vehicle.
Sgt Smith secured the accident scene and administered life-saving first aid to the female victim, keeping her conscious until emergency medical services were able to reach the scene.
The victim was later flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where she was successfully treated for her injuries.
For his selfless and heroic efforts and for his impeccable driver safety record during 20 years with the Army, Sgt Smith has been awarded the prestigious Goodyear Highway Hero award.
The award carries with it a replica of the Goodyear Highway Heroes trophy, $5000 cash and valuable peer and industry recognition.

Sgt Smith said he was thrilled to be acknowledged for a part of his job he sees as “routine” and that the way he reacted to the situation was the result of valuable industry and first aid training.
“Unfortunately accidents do happen on the roads and I am just happy that my training was able to be put to good use in helping the victim,” he said.
“One of my main concerns at the scene was the amount of fuel spilling onto the exposed hot engine. I entered the vehicle through the front windscreen to render first aid, and was concerned about the vehicle igniting. So I ordered the other soldiers at the scene to gather as many fire extinguishers as possible from the banked-up traffic.
“Over 20 years driving trucks in the Australian Army I have been in this kind of situation before and it’s only through an ongoing commitment to safety and training that I was able to have the first aid skills necessary to help out in this case.
“I’m just glad I was there to help.”
As much as Sgt Smith was awarded the Goodyear Highway Heroes award for his quick thinking at the scene of this accident, the judges were equally impressed with his exemplary driver safety record, earned over a career spanning more than 20 years of driving trucks.
Kevin Halpin, Manager Industry Affairs, Corporate and Customer Relationships for South Pacific Tyres, the company that administers the award, said as much as the program rewarded drivers for heroic efforts on the road, it was also about recognising drivers who have shown an outstanding commitment to health and safety in doing their jobs.
“Craig’s dedication to safety issues was a major reason for his selection,” he said.
“In our view it is important to acknowledge the efforts that drivers go to keep themselves and others safe on the road and it is pleasing that Craig is taking this a step further by encouraging others in his charge to follow his good example.”
Goodyear is now calling for nominations for the 2003 Highway Hero award, to be presented next year.
n Nominations can be submitted online at www.goodyear.com.au or by calling 1800 809 629.

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