Tech. Sgt. Paul Judice and Staff Sgt. Cristian Brown were traveling east near mile marker 183, approximately two miles east of the Sedillo exit, at about 12:35 p.m. when they noticed a tractor-trailer lying on its side alongside the highway.
Source: New Mexico National Guard (via Facebook)
By Hank Minitrez, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs Director
Photo: Courtesy
SANTA FE, N.M. — Two New Mexico National Guard service members traveling to Roswell for a Community Emergency Response Team mission stopped to assist a tractor-trailer driver following a rollover crash on Interstate 40 eastbound Oct. 6.
Tech. Sgt. Paul Judice and Staff Sgt. Cristian Brown were traveling east near mile marker 183, approximately two miles east of the Sedillo exit, at about 12:35 p.m. when they noticed a tractor-trailer lying on its side alongside the highway.
Initially believing they were passing an earlier crash, the service members realized the incident had just occurred when they saw another motorist quickly pull over and a woman exit the vehicle and run toward the scene.
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Judice and Brown immediately stopped to assess the situation and determine whether they could safely approach the overturned tractor-trailer.
The truck had rolled onto a fence and came to rest just short of a culvert, complicating access to the cab.
After determining they could safely approach, Brown moved to the front of the truck, where the culvert provided access around the fence.
Reaching the cab required Brown to negotiate an approximately 6-foot drop.
Brown initially attempted to gain access to the driver through the front windshield but was unable to break the glass.
He then obtained a pry bar and used it to gain access through the driver’s door.
Brown reached the driver, who appeared to be uninjured, and assisted the driver out of the overturned truck, down to safety and away from the vehicle.
“Service isn’t confined to a uniform or a specific mission brief—it’s a mindset that travels with our guardsmen every mile. When faced with a rollover on I-40, Tech. Sgt. Judice and Staff Sgt. Brown demonstrated textbook situational awareness, stepping up to assess the risk and get the driver to safety. That is character in action, and they represent the very best of New Mexico’s service members. I couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, Adjutant General of New Mexico.
Judice and Brown’s actions reflect the readiness, initiative and commitment to service New Mexico National Guard members bring to communities throughout the state.
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