Traffic crash crushes man’s legs; 2 officers honored for quick, lifesaving action
Two Bloomfield Township police officers were honored recently for saving a man’s life following a traffic crash along I-75.
Officers Michael Buczek and David Comerford were each presented with a 2021 Outstanding Service Award at the Police Officers Labor Council’s annual conference Sept. 17 in Traverse City.
The officers’ actions which led to the award were described as a “quick and decisive” response in helping a 63-year-old man who had pulled over onto the expressway’s shoulder to close his pickup truck’s tailgate and was struck by a minivan driven by an 85-yearold woman.
According to a press release from Police Officers Journal, Buczek was the first officer on the scene, encountering a “very upset and confused elderly driver” who had struck the man with her vehicle, causing severe injuries to his legs. Buczek put the elderly woman in his patrol car and then located the man lying between his truck and the minivan, in a pool of blood.
“It looks like he got pinned and rolled up under her car,” Buczek stated in the release. “When I walked up to him, it was obvious there were visible compound fractures and he was bleeding pretty severely.
“I believe he was praying. He wasn’t hysterical… he was conscious, but subdued.”
Comerford then arrived and the two began to stop the man’s bleeding.
“I put a tourniquet on the one leg where it was obvious,” Buczek stated, and then the injury to the other leg became apparent. “When we put the first (tourniquet) on, you could see the injury (to the other leg).”
Comerford grabbed another tourniquet from his patrol car which was put on the man’s other leg.
“It was kind of a chaotic scene,” Comerford stated. “I’ve been an officer for 18 years and our department does a really good job of being able to provide training in all aspects of what we do. Having something in our memory, we just knew what to do. I think it’s just a credit to the amount of training we’ve had.”
The injured man subsequently underwent emergency surgery. His life was saved but he lost both legs.
“The hospital staff had commented that if those two had not put on tourniquets, the victim would not have survived. Their actions did save the victim,” stated fellow Bloomfield Township police officer Kelly Marthen, who investigated the crash scene
POLC Director Rob Figurski said Buczek and Comerford’s response “exemplify training in action. “They acted with courage and without hesitation. Their training and experience came to the forefront of their minds and the victim is alive today because of their critical response skills,” he stated.
POLC Executive Committee member John Huizdos also weighed in. In his letter of recommendation, he stated: “As a result of their training, quick action and calm demeanor, officers Buczek and Comerford saved the victim’s life.”