By Sgt. Adrianne Lopez, Joint Task Force DC

WASHINGTON — Mississippi National Guard Soldiers supporting Joint Task Force-District of Columbia rushed to the aid of a critically injured woman near 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, securing the scene and clearing a landing zone for a medical evacuation helicopter.

The Soldiers, deployed to Washington for the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, were conducting routine checks at control points when they witnessed a white pickup truck strike the woman as she crossed near the intersection. Within seconds, the team shifted from standard operations to an emergency response, applying their military training to provide life-saving aid while protecting bystanders and supporting emergency responders.

“We ran over to her to assess her,” said Spc. Ramiro Cooley, a combat medic with the Mississippi National Guard. “I stayed on the woman and secured her airway. We also put pressure on the bleeding that was coming out of her head.”

Steady under pressure, Cooley and Pfc. Chilel Berduo, a combat medic on the same team, remained at the woman’s side, helping guide the transfer from the roadway to the ambulance before she was airlifted to a local hospital for advanced medical treatment.

Cooley, who graduated from Army Combat Medic Advanced Individual Training eight months ago, said the response felt instinctive. 

“It’s pretty amazing that we were just right there and witnessed it happen,” said Cooley. “It was our first time having a patient like that. I’m just glad that we knew what we were doing in the moment. It was second nature.”

While Cooley and Berduo worked to stabilize the woman, nearly 20 Mississippi Guard members synchronized to secure the busy intersection. Soldiers from nearby control points rushed toward the scene after hearing urgent radio traffic and seeing the collision unfold, according to 1st Lt. Justin Burton, a platoon leader with the Mississippi Guard. The team quickly established a perimeter and diverted oncoming traffic to clear a path for incoming emergency vehicles. When a medical helicopter was requested, Soldiers moved farther north to help clear a landing zone near 14th Street and Jefferson Drive SW.

The Soldiers also detained the driver at the scene until U.S. Park Police arrived, said Burton. Burton credited noncommissioned officers and junior leaders with making quick decisions without waiting for step-by-step directions. While medics focused on the injured woman, Soldiers took control of the street – setting up security boundaries, managing the crowd and directing traffic away from the scene.

The Soldiers’ actions kept the scene secure, protected the public and gave first responders the space they needed to carry out the medical evacuation safely. 

“One team pushed forward to clear the street, Burton said, “and allowed the fire department to set up a helicopter landing zone.”

For Cooley, the moment underscored the importance of readiness.

“I think it made all the difference,” said Cooley. “We were on her within 30 seconds. For the short amount of time she was on the ground, and I didn’t have pressure, it was a pretty fair-sized pool of blood. If we hadn’t been there, who knows what could’ve happened.”