Soldier of Fortune Magazine The Journal of Professional Adventurers
A Florida law enforcement officer saved the life of a six-month-old baby who lost consciousness and stopped breathing while trapped inside a car following a horrific high-speed crash.
The baby was strapped securely in the back seat of her mom’s car when a motorcyclist slammed through the baby’s window on the night of Feb 8., according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident unfolded just after 7:30pm that night, when a motorcycle was traveling at more than 100 mph on a public road. The motorcycle sped past Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Dave Musgrove, who was on patrol.
“Seconds later, Sgt. Musgrove saw a cloud of dust and smoke ahead of him,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
As he approached the scene, he saw the shattered motorcycle, with no driver in sight. Another vehicle was approximately 25-40 feet away, and there was crying coming from within.
“As he approached, he observed the motorcyclist, deceased, wedged into the rear window on the driver’s side of the vehicle,” officials said. “As Sgt. Musgrove rushed to check on the victims, he heard the driver yell to him, pleading to help her children.
“Sergeant Musgrove immediately ran around the rear of the car and opened the rear passenger door, locating a small child and removing her from her booster seat. The mother yelled that she had another child in the backseat as well.”
Musgrove flagged down a civilian to help hold the first child while he went to look for the second child. He found the infant strapped inside a car seat, underneath the deceased motorcyclist.
Bystanders arrived on scene, and helped to move the motorcyclist off of the infant. They cut the seat belt so that Sgt. Musgrove could remove the car seat and check on the baby.
To his horror, the sergeant found that the infant had no pulse and was not breathing.
Acting quickly, Sgt. Musgrove removed the child from the car seat and immediately began chest compressions. He kept doing them until the child finally inhaled deeply. Emergency medical crews then arrived, and continued the lifesaving efforts. After a short time, EMS advised that they had detected a pulse.
“The actions of Sgt. Musgrove are to be commended,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said. “His poise and calm demeanor in a scene of chaos and tragedy ultimately saved the life of a beautiful child. I want to thank the bystanders who came to his aid as well, allowing him to focus on the immediate need of the baby. This was a senseless accident that resulted in a life lost, but it would have been two lives had Dave not been there. Still, I offer my thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of the motorcyclist and I ask that you keep this mother and her children in your prayers.”
The baby is alive and receiving treatment. The other child and the mother are doing well.
