A Good Samaritan at the scene of a horrific crash on I-91 in Rocky Hill on Tuesday ran to the aid of a 2-year-old boy who was unconscious.
The crash, which closed part of the highway for hours, left one person dead and two others injured, including the boy.
Jasmin Flores, who is a nurse, said she did what anyone would do, but she is truly brave.
Her story starts out like something anyone has been through… You’re running late, the kids haven't eaten, you stop for a bite and head back on the road, but then life throws you a curveball.
The Ellington woman, who is a registered nurse and a former EMT, ran to help people involved in this crash, while her own children were in the car, and helped save the boy’s life.
Flores was right behind the crash on I-91 when it happened on Tuesday morning.
“The Jeep was already on its side and you can see gas coming out. The tire broke so it was a really bad accident,” Flores said.
She didn’t see the crash but saw the aftermath.
Two passengers in the Jeep were a father, 31-year-old Joshua Gootkin, and his 2-year-old son Noah.
“I saw the car seat rolling three times and the father of the little boy, I later found out it was the father was trying to chase after the car seat,” Flores said.
The car seat ended up in the break-down lane, and the back seat was in the middle of the road.
Flores made the quick decision to help the 2-year-old.
She said Gootkin was holding him, completely distraught.
“He just kept begging for us to save his son and it was such a desperate situation,” Flores said.
So, she yanked the boy out of his arms and started CPR.
“I checked, there was no pulse, no heart rate, his eyes were just white and no response,” Flores said.
That's when she says she performed CPR six times, and finally felt something.
“My hand was on his chest and literally felt his heart when it started. I've done CPR many times and never been so happy to feel a heartbeat as when I felt his heart jump start,” Flores said.
The driver of the Jeep, 60-year-old Benjamin Bidwell died at the hospital.
Both Gootkin and Noah were taken to the hospital.
Noah has been undergoing surgery.
Flores hope he pulls through.
“The relief we all felt just to see him take a breath. The relief his father felt just to see him moving. I think I did what anyone would have done,” Flores said.
She said her car wasn’t damaged, but cars around her were.
She added that she felt like it was a call to help this boy, and she also happened to have her nursing bag with her.
Flores mentioned that a lot of people got out of their cars to help, but nobody knew how to perform CPR.
“A lot of people stopped and I screamed ‘does anyone know CPR’ and no one knew CPR and I told them it doesn't matter, grab gloves, turn the other guy around and start pressing on his chest because you can't do it wrong. At this point, anything would help,” Flores said.
She said that’s why she wants others to know how important learning CPR is.
“I was hesitant to talk about it because I don't like the attention but I think it's important for people to be aware of CPR and stopping and helping. Even if you don't know what to do. Even if you try. It's better than nothing. It might give a person a fighting chance,” Flores said.
She very well gave the 2-year-old boy a second chance at life.
“At that time I had my hand literally over his chest and I'm listening for air and I felt when he started beating,” Flores said, adding that that was a good feeling.
COURTESY: WFSB