I have many blessings. One of my greatest blessings is my son. He recently turned 15 and earned his drivers permit right away. I was in the right hand seat coaching as we moved through the busy intersection of Clayton Road and Big Bend the day after Christmas. Suddenly my son spotted a terrible one car accident. The small car had crashed into a traffic signal pole. The engine compartment was on fire. There was a young man pinned inside the car. I wanted to help. I ordered my son to make an immediate right into a nearby subdivision, pull over, and call 911. I bolted to the accident scene. There were heroes.

One of them was trying to put out the engine fire by smothering it with his coat. Another screamed for help. I ran to the gas station in the middle of Clayton road and begged for a fire extinguisher. The clerk snatched it off the wall and handed it to me. Back at the accident scene, smoke billowed into the passenger compartment of the crumpled car. The fire grew in intensity. I was scared of the possibility of an explosion. A hero tried to reach the driver of the wreck, but the driver was pinned. The hero reassured him that help was on the way. There was no response from the driver. Another hero appeared with a second fire extinguisher. The fire was put out. There was nothing else we could do. It would take something more to rescue this young man. We needed divine help. Our prayers were answered. Angels appeared. The first came from Richmond Heights. They flew to the scene with lights flashing and sirens screaming. They wore blue uniforms and immediately took control of the frantic scene. Our safety was their first priority. They moved us back to a safe distance. More Angels appeared on the scene this time from Clayton. The jaws of life were deployed and other life saving equipment. Within in a few moments they had freed the driver from the twisted wreck. It was miraculous.

I can not tell you how professional and courageous the police and firefighters were that December afternoon. They are truly more than heroes.

Later I found out the young man in the car died of his injuries. A twenty-seven year old seventh-grade science teacher. To his family, friends, and students you may rest assured everything possible was done that could have been done to save him.

It was the heroes and angels.

Thomas S. Seiff
St. Louis