By: Local Conservation Corps

Jesse Monroy, Victor Monroy, and Stephanie Padilla of our Local Conservation Corps’ Fresno Safe and Proud Neighborhoods AmeriCorps Program, were recognized earlier this month during the Fresno-Madera American Red Cross’ Real Heroes celebration, an annual event that honor community members’ acts of selflessness and courage while performing life-saving acts. The trio received the Good Samaritan award.

On October 19, 2008, Jesse, Victor, and Stephanie were chaperoning a Fresno Police Activities League (PAL) youth trip to an Oakland Raiders game when the van they were riding in was rear-ended by a delivery truck. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle to hit the van in front, also holding PAL participants, forcing it to cross several lanes of freeway traffic. The AmeriCoprs members quickly sprang into action, calming the children participating in PAL’s youth trip and administering first aid until emergency personnel arrived on scene. Thanks to their quick thinking and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and First Aid training, the AmeriCorps members were able to maintain composure while keeping the youth safe from freeway traffic. Four children were transported to the children’s hospital by ambulance, and a total of ten children were treated for injuries that they sustained in the accident.