By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – He's glad to be alive. One truck driver believes defensive driving and keeping a cool head saved a life.
Truck driver Tyrone Mullins, 42, of Chester, Pa. was driving down Niles-Buchanan Road Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. when he saw a silvery grey car coming at him head on.
"As I approached the intersection of Niles-Buchanan and Morris Drive, the car was coming right at me. I saw an opening by the property to the right and steered gently to the right. Then I saw the telephone pole. The best I could do was to try to get it to a 10/11 approach rather than head-on. I knew that if the load shifted more than 35 degrees, I would jackknife and we would have a real mess," Mullins said.
The resulting crash caused nearly 300 gallons of diesel fuel and anti-freeze to pour into the roadway. It took the Niles Fire Department, Niles Township Fire Department and the Berrien County Sheriff's Department Hazmat team almost two hours to clear the fuel and reopen the road.
The load Mullins speaks of was a large crane he was transporting from Niles back to Pennsylvania.
Deputy Tommy Simpson of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department reports that a 2003 Chevrolet driven by a 50-year-old Niles woman, was traveling eastbound when she suddenly swerved into the opposite lane and into the path of Mullins' semi.
"He took evasive action. Mr. Mullin's quick reaction saved her life," Deputy Simpson said.
Mullins, who said he is a 17-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, said he knew somebody had to keep a cooler head. Mullins said he couldn't see staying in his own lane and taking a life, in the right or not.
"I just tried to minimize everything on my part. Everyone has been so nice. The work of the officers, and everyone who came to the scene, was exemplary. Super nice officers. I owe a great deal to the witnesses too. They didn't hesitate in stepping forward to testify to what they saw," he said.
The injured woman was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.
"As investigating officer I can say that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the incident. "No apparent health issue seemed to have caused the crash," Deputy Simpson said, adding she has been cited for careless driving.
"I'm doing well considering. I have a lot of bruising and have an injured left ankle, but no bones are broken. They will be running more tests tomorrow," said Dagmar Benner, the driver of the Chevrolet, speaking by phone from Memorial Hospital.
Asked what happened, Benner stated, "I don't know."
She, along with husband Bob and son Alex, 21, are just grateful she is alive. She is not yet sure whether or not she will be home for Easter.
"I think I will be going home soon. I have more tests tomorrow. We just have to see what happens," Benner said.
Mullins was released from Lakeland Hospital after being held overnight for observation and treatment of a contusion on his left knee and a sprained left ankle. He too is glad everyone got out alive. With his ankle in an air-cast, he was taken to the Holiday Express Inn in Niles.
The semi belonging to First Light Trucking out of Glassboro, N. J., was totaled, according to Mullins. The front steering tie-rod was ripped off and both fuel lines were destroyed, he said.
"I couldn't have been driving a safer piece of equipment. Volvo certainly lived up to its reputation on this one. It kept me alive," Mullins said.
"Clark's Towing did a wonderful job of hauling the wrecks out of there," Deputy Simpson said.
Mullins is not sure whether he will get back home in time for Easter. The divorced father of three was supposed to have the weekend with his children.
He has two sons Nicholas, 16, and Alexander, 13, and one daughter, Morgan, 2. Even if he does miss the weekend, he says the children understand and are just glad he is okay.
Mullins is philosophical about his heroic action.
"Instinctively you do what you have to do to go home to your family, " he said.
His boss Mike Young, owner of First Light Trucking, whom he called the best boss in the world, told him to enjoy his room. Mullins says he is grateful for all the kindness he has enjoyed while in Niles, but still hopes he can arrange to get home soon.