Fast First Aid Saves Crash Victim

BEESLEY’S POINT — Rendering first aid is something most hope they will never have to do, but want to know, just in case.
Such a life-saving moment was about to take place on Thur., Oct. 28, literally in the blinking of an eye, on the northbound Garden State Parkway Bridge at about 6 p.m.
Talbert Woodall III, 34, of Egg Harbor Township, on a motorcycle, passed Nicole Seltzer Sullivan, of Branchville, as she took her mother, Alice Seltzer of Naples, Fla. to the Atlantic City International Airport to return to the Sunshine State after visiting friends and relatives in and around Villas, where the Seltzers formerly lived.
Seconds later, the motorcycle hit the median barrier, and bounced off, and in so doing, severed Woodall’s arm.
Before the terrified Sullivan and her mother could fully comprehend what had happened, she stopped and ran to the aid of the profusely bleeding Woodall.
She saw his arm behind her car.
Without thinking, first aid training instantly kicked in, the respiratory therapist at Newton Hospital, Sussex County, raced to help, and quickly sought a sweatshirt from someone, and a belt from another to apply a tourniquet to slow the bleeding.
Miraculously, said Sullivan, an off-duty paramedic appeared, and assisted her until Upper Township Rescue Squad and Marmora Fire Department arrived, within minutes.
During the accident and subsequent investigation, the bridge was closed, and traffic was gridlocked.
Sullivan recalled Woodall kept repeating, “My mom’s Pat. My mom’s Pat.”
Someone got an ice chest from their car and placed the severed limb in it for transport to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Trauma Unit in Atlantic City.
Woodall was transported to MedEvac 5 that flew him to Atlantic City.
He was listed in critical condition, according to State Police Trooper Lamach of Bass River Station. The hospital declined to issue a further condition report on Monday.
Sullivan, interviewed by telephone on Fri., Oct. 29, said, “I pray for him (Woodall) and his family. My best wishes go out to them. I send them my deepest sympathy. I did what I could do. My first response was to grab the arm and stop the bleeding.”
“I don’t know how I got home here. It was just God’s will. I just did what anybody would do,” said Sullivan, still in something of a trance a day after the accident.
She also said she doesn’t know how she got her mother to the airport, and in enough time to catch her flight back to Florida.
From her Florida home, Alice Seltzer, whose family, including son, Michael and Nicole, lived for many years on Woodland Avenue, Villas, said, “It was unbelievable what the people did on the bridge. It was just wonderful.”
After the tragedy, she recalled Nicole stopping her car, putting on the flashers, and yelling to me ‘Call 9-1-1!’”
“It was a sight to behold,” said Seltzer.
“I am really proud of my sister,” said Michael Seltzer, who lives in Pensacola, Fla.
“It was horrifying for my mother and sister Susan to see, especially because 28 years ago, I was in a motorcycle accident.”
The northbound lane of the parkway was closed until about 8:20 p.m. as State Police investigated the scene.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com