MARINE FORCES RESERVE, New Orleans -- Westbound on Interstate 610 while driving to their home on the Northshore, Master Gunnery Sgt. Jaime Cadwalader and her husband Master Sgt. Mark Cadwalader didn’t have any plans that evening.
It wasn’t until Jaime Cadwalader slammed on the brakes while moving about 60 miles per hour, that their ordinary Aug. 12 day, turned into an unforgettable one. As cars began to smash on the brakes to avoid the multi-car pileup in front of them, Jaime Cadwalader jerked slightly sideways through another lane avoiding collisions with the vehicles surrounding her.
From what they both remembered, they said that conditions outside were clear and traffic was flowing smoothly.
“I was looking down reading something when this all happened, so I actually didn’t see anything,” said Mark Cadwalader, Marine Forces Reserve, Safety staff noncommissioned officer in charge.
The driver, Jaime Cadwalader, was also surprised by the accident.
“I slammed on the brakes because the cars in front of me were trying to stop,” said Jaime Cadwalader, G-3 Staff NCOIC, Mobilization Command. “While I was stopping all I heard was metal crashing and tires squealing, I didn’t see anything because there was a big truck in front of us.
Jaime Cadwalader stopped briefly and she proceeded to move her car to the far left median. She ran to the trunk to grab the few items she thought would help treat potential victim’s injuries. Mark Cadwalader exited the vehicle and immediately ran to the two damaged vehicles, which included an overturned van.
“I first ran to the guy on the ground that had crawled out of the upside down vehicle, I told him not to move,” said Mark Cadwalader. “I went to the other vehicle. There were three or four people in there, they were all okay; they just looked a little shaken up.”
Jaime Cadwalader tended to a victim who had a cut on her hand. She used a towel to control the bleeding. She also said she held the hand of a victim and comforted him as he appeared to be going into shock.
Upon surveying the scene, Mark Cadwalader estimated that two vehicles were involved in the accident. Among the two vehicles, there were seven passengers. Two of the seven had noticeable injuries.
After tending to the victims, Mark Cadwalader began directing traffic, alongside an Army sergeant first class and a few civilians. Once emergency services and New Orleans police arrived, he shook hands with a NOPD police officer and said, “You got it from here.”
The Cadwalader’s vehicle was one of the closest vehicles to the accident, but that wasn’t the only reason they helped.
“I didn’t want any kind of recognition,” said Mark, who has served in the Marine Corps for nearly 17 years. “It was just a natural reaction to help, like any other person would.”