Woman Credits Fireman For Saving Her Life Following Wreck

October 9, 2012

A woman is crediting a Flomaton fireman for saving her following a wreck Saturday in Gonzalez.

Rosa Bertolla said she though she was going to die after the crash Saturday afternoon at Old Chemstrand Road and Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol said 55-year old Terry Mack Smith lost the brakes on his motorhome, sideswiped one car and then slammed into Bertolla’s van.

Bertolla said her van began to fill with smoke, but she was unable to get out. Then she said off-duty Flomaton volunteer fireman Chance Hawthorne pulled her of her van. He had stopped nearby with his wife, on their way home from Pensacola.

“The instinct just kicked in to do what I was trained to do. And I’ve been doing this for five years and this is what I love,” Hawthorne said.

Smith was charged with careless driving in connection with the accident.

Pictured: Rosa Bertolla said her van was filling with smoke when she was pulled to safety by an off-duty Flomaton volunteer fireman Saturday afternoon in Gonzalez. Pictured inset: Bertolli met fireman chance Hawthorne Monday. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

19 Responses to “Woman Credits Fireman For Saving Her Life Following Wreck”

  1. smohockey on October 11th, 2012 10:59 pm

    Way to go Hawthorne !!!!!! Your an all right guy, even though your an Alabama fan.

  2. christine on October 10th, 2012 9:37 pm

    I BELEIVE HE DESERVES TO RECIEVE SOME TYPE OF AWARD FOR ALL OF WHAT HE DOES AND HIS BRAVERY!!! WAY TO GO!!! KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

  3. Sharmon on October 10th, 2012 4:55 pm

    Chance was a student of mine. I am not surprised at his eagerness to help someone in trouble. I am always proud to hear of my students doing well, and this makes my day! Good job Chance.

  4. Rosa on October 10th, 2012 1:03 pm

    Again…Thank you Chance for being one of my ANGELS that day. I would also like to thank the gentleman that was by my side praying the whole time until the EMT’s made him move. Thanks to the lady that went and got my friend and Tracey (who was also in the accident) for getting me something to drink. BeeBee..the EMT thanks for not letting me get car sick. :-) . God Bless All. And yes we all need to get together and honor our volunteers.

  5. Linda on October 9th, 2012 4:29 pm

    Way to go Chance… Great job YOUR DAD WOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOU…..

  6. David Dix on October 9th, 2012 12:19 pm

    Congrats Chance.

  7. Ray on October 9th, 2012 11:05 am

    To a brother fire fighter well done.

  8. cj on October 9th, 2012 9:49 am

    dan-o you are right on – so glad Chance was there! I just wonder why the public is allowing these public servants to go so long without any type of pay raise.

  9. Debie T on October 9th, 2012 9:13 am

    I could not say it any better than dan-o. We can’t give all of these public servants enough recognition for their sacrifices. GOD bless all of them and their families.
    We should have a public servants day to honor them all. Even yearly.

  10. Rhonda Currie on October 9th, 2012 8:34 am

    What a wonderfull thing to do for someone. Very proud of this young man !!!!

  11. denver on October 9th, 2012 8:31 am

    Way to go Chance!

  12. Sunshine on October 9th, 2012 8:17 am

    Very proud of you Chance. That was a very good thing you did. You will be considered as her angel forever. To know you did that off duty goes to show how much you do love what you do. I know Kim and those kids are very happy to have their own hero! It’s not the super heroes that stay with children it’s the real ones like yourself.

  13. Darla on October 9th, 2012 8:14 am

    I imagine Kimbie was having a McCann fit. We love you Chance and on behalf of the Peterson side we guess we’ll keep you. Thanks for using what God has given you.

  14. Bill D on October 9th, 2012 7:05 am

    Kudo’s to Mr. Hawthorne for taking charge of the situation. Great job!

  15. Sister-in-law on October 9th, 2012 6:45 am

    We are all very proud of you chance! You are such a brave man. I love you!!

  16. dad on October 9th, 2012 5:33 am

    Thanks you Chance!

  17. dan-o on October 9th, 2012 1:22 am

    Chance Hawthorne is also a Correctional Officer at Century C.I….and we are proud of him for not only helping this very lucky lady, but for the countless number of times that you have put yourself in harm’s way for the benefit of another. You truly are the epitome of a public servant. Thanks to all public servants for the jobs that you do every day. Jobs that are mostly criticized and unpopular in general conversation. A special thank you goes out to the overlooked: Correctional Officers, Police Officers, Firemen, EMT’s, EMS, RN’s, and LPN’s. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO!

  18. Jen on October 9th, 2012 1:15 am

    A true american hero….

  19. tomtom48 on October 9th, 2012 12:31 am

    Good going there Chance

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News