MARINE RECRUITER RESPONDS TO CRASH
Staff Sgt. Alaine Sueme credited for swiftly providing aid after accident
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » A United States Marine recruiter swiftly responded to a car accident in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 1.
Staff Sgt. Alaine Sueme, a recruiter from Marine Corps Recruiting Sub Station Saratoga Springs, was canvassing a local grocery store when she heard a loud screeching noise. As she turned toward the sound of the commotion, she witnessed a car driving at a high rate of speed hit another car head-on.
“I was walking out of the grocery store and I saw a car going extremely fast,” Sueme said. “The car overcorrected while turning and ended up crashing.” She ran to the scene of the collision and observed that one of the drivers was badly injured and multiple vehicles were involved.
“I took off running to make sure that everyone was OK,” Sueme said. “I was thinking in my head, ‘someone was hurt.’”
After identifying the most vulnerable victim, Sueme went toward the crashed vehicle, which had collided with a tree. The car had sustained significant damage, with the windows shattered and the air bag deployed.
“I got to the door on the driver’s side and I called out ‘ma’am, are you ok?’” said Sueme.
The driver had her head on the steering wheel, weakly responding to Sueme’s calls. After assessing the driver’s injuries, which included a bloody nose and bleeding welt on her chest but no spinal or neck injuries, Sueme expediently pulled her out after noticing smoke coming from the vehicle.
“I asked her first responder questions like, ‘what day is it?’ to see if she was all right,” said Sueme. “I definitely think that my training as a Marine helped at that point.”
Sueme added that the virtues she upholds as a Marine compelled her to assist and aid the drivers.
“Our commercials always talk about responding to the sound of chaos,” said Sueme. “I felt like I had to help.”
Sueme’s selfless actions reflect highly of her, the unit, and the United States Marine Corps, according to Major James M. Covey, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Albany.
“She is the type of Marine I want representing our area,” said Covey. “Staff Sergeant Sueme did exactly what the American people expect of Marines. She immediately responded to a dangerous, chaotic situation without doubt in her mind and brought order to the chaos. I’m proud of her. It’s what we are looking for in every Marine and in those we recruit to be future Marines.”