Good Samaritan On Helping Woman Impaled By Tree
CHICAGO (CBS) - Connie Odoms stopped to help a stranger who was impaled by a tree. She wasn't the first person to pull over, but she was the first who tried to help. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole talked to the Good Samaritan.
Connie Odoms says she couldn't believe her eyes. Neither can the victim: Helen Miller of Lake Villa.
Odoms describes cars that were rushing off, away from the scene as Miller was injured in her car. Miller says others did come over before Connie to take cell phone pictures and then drive away.
Fortunately, there are people like Connie Odoms in this world.
"I just kept talking to her. I mean, me, myself, I was scared as well. I just wanted to keep eye contact and keep her calm," said Odoms.
When a massive, wind-blown tree leveled a tiny Smart Car, impaling and trapping the driver inside, Odoms rushed in to help.
"I just spoke with her, made sure she was calm. Then I saw that the tree was lodged into her abdominal area and my adrenalin started rushing as well," said Odoms.
Conditions at the scene were grave. There was a tree branch still lodged in the stomach of Helen Miller.
Odoms was driving to work in Lindenhurst during Tuesday's considerable wind storm when she came upon the sight.
"When I got closer, I looked to the left side and I saw this woman hanging out of her car," she said.
Odoms, who is CPR-trained, said vehicles were just maneuvering around the mangled car and injured woman -- until she, and then two others, came to help; calling 911 and keeping Miller calm.
"Just human instinct. I just did what I would want anyone to do for me," said Odoms.
Todd Miller, the husband of the victim, said, "We're glad that this Good Samaritan stopped."
Todd says his wife knows just how lucky she was that Odoms was on hand.
"Several passersby either sped past or actually stopped and took cell phone photographs, but this one, this lady actually stayed with my wife," said Todd.
Todd says his wife tried to call out for help, but "she said her voice was pretty weak. She tried to scream as loud as she could but couldn't vocalize."
Connie Odoms downplays her heroics as something anyone would do in an emergency, though we've all witnessed that's not always so.
So what makes her such a Good Samaritan?
"The way I was raised," she said. "Christian home, good family. It just carried on with me, that's all."
Odoms has worked as a roadside angel before. A few years back, a woman crashed her car into a light post and Odoms again called 911, and that time helped her escape from the vehicle.
Helen Miller, who is still hospitalized and listed in fair condition, is lucky Connie Odoms was driving by. And we feel lucky just to have met her.
