Photo and story by Jerry Strahan |

A former Springhill firefighter proved he hasn’t forgotten his training nor how to take care of someone in trouble.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 31, Springhill Fire Department was paged to a one-vehicle crash on Highway 157 East at Lakeview Drive — a vehicle was on its side, with one person trapped inside.

Former firefighter Tony Hall saw it happen.

“The driver swerved to miss a deer, on a highway already wet from drizzle,” Hall said.

Hall stopped his vehicle and hurried to the vehicle on its side.

“I could hear the man yelling that he couldn’t get out and was having trouble breathing,” he said.

Tony jumped into action, remembering his firefighter training, breaking out a window and pulling the man to safety. The patient reportedly was coughing because of the smoke from the airbags.

The Springhill Fire Department arrived soon after and took over care of the patient. He reportedly had minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital by ambulance.

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