Lt. Troy Hamby will be recognized by Mayor Richard J. Berry for a “job well done”
ALBUQUERQUE – There was nothing unusual about Troy Hamby’s drive to the hospital to pick up his partner until he saw “something strange off in the darkness.”
What he saw on Dec. 12 was the aftermath of a violent crash in which a car crossed a Montgomery Boulevard median, went airborne and plowed through a cinderblock wall.
Inside was an unconscious woman who was trapped. Outside there were people on their cell phones calling 911.
Although Hamby was alone driving the large truck, he stopped and grabbed his ax, climbed over a cinderblock wall, smashed out the passenger side window and crawled into the vehicle to assist the woman.
The car was a mess. Glass was everywhere. Metal was crushed and the airbags had been deployed. Hamby unlocked the driver’s door and with the help of the first arriving police officer, was able to gain access to the injured woman.
While Hamby was checking to see if the woman had any serious injuries, she started talking to him. With the help of other firefighters from AFD’s station 15, Hamby was able to get the woman out of the car.
The woman was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital. It is believed she was suffering a seizure when she crashed.
While the circumstances were unusual, I don't feel that my actions were extraordinary,” Hamby said. “I acted as any member of our proud group of people would.”
After the rescue Hamby finally made it to the hospital to pick up his partner. Hamby was planning to meet up with his partner again after the two responded to an earlier call that an elderly woman fell and broke her femur. Hamby’s partner, Johnathon Wiest, had gone with the woman in an Albuquerque Ambulance leaving Hamby alone with the rescue truck.
On Friday Mayor Richard J. Berry presented Hamby with an Albuquerque Fire mug for a “Job Well Done.”
