News

Off-Duty Officers Help With Emergency Response During Car Collision

NYC DOC thanks hero Officers Saint-Phard and Stanislaus for helping New Yorkers during the tragic accident on July 5.

Today, NYC DOC is sending a heartfelt thank you for your heroism to Officers Saint-Phard and Stanislaus for helping during a tragic four vehicle crash on the Belt Parkway in Howard Beach on July 5. The crash, which occurred just near the parkway’s Cross Bay Boulevard exit, claimed the lives of two New Yorkers and severely injured several others.
     
While driving to work early that morning, Saint-Phard immediately pulled over at the accident scene, assessed that it was a multiple casualty incident and called 911. Before interagency partners NYPD and FDNY arrived to the scene, Officer Saint-Phard helped the motorists and passengers in the crash, as well as assisted in controlling the crowd.

“It was about a little past 6 a.m., traffic was building up and I saw black smoke as I was driving up to the accident. I immediately stopped, pulled over and I got out of my truck and I saw some victims had been ejected from one of the cars and it was on fire and I called 911 right away,” Saint-Phard recalled. “While waiting for help to arrive, I used my training to help the victims in any way that I could without moving anyone. If I had to do it all over again, I would.” 

That morning, Officer Stanislaus was also driving to work and pulled over once he saw the accident. Upon exiting his vehicle, he spotted that Officer Saint-Phard was already helping the victims. Officer Stanislaus then began to assist alongside Saint-Phard with emergency response and traffic control until partners in public safety arrived.
    
“Initially, I saw the accident and Officer Saint-Phard was by one of the vehicles, and I thought he was involved in the accident, so I’m rushing over to the accident to help my brother too,” Officer Stanislaus recalled. “It was a lot going on with the drivers and passengers hurt. When Officer Saint-Phard told me briefly what happened, I let him know I got his back and started helping too. That’s how it is in the jails too. We’re a team and we help one another.”
   
Thank you to these two heroes for helping New Yorkers in their time of need. 

Learn more about Officer Saint-Phard here. 
Learn more about Officer Stanislaus here.