By: Nadia Brown

Two American Red Cross volunteers were in the right place at the right time to help a couple of drivers after a car crash. On Thursday, June 6, Shelly Berger and Rosie Collins drove to the Red Cross office in Dallas, Texas. They stopped at the busy Market Center Boulevard and Stemmons Freeway intersection.

The driver beside them pulled into the intersection as the light turned green. A driver ran the red light in the opposite direction and collided with the car next to Berger and Collins. They immediately pulled over to the side of the road, jumped out of their car and went into action.

Berger and Collins helped the drivers out of their vehicles. Berger remembers how the drivers were in shock. They helped the motorists remain as calm as possible and did whatever else they could do to assist them, displaying kindness and heroism. Berger also spoke with the police so that emergency vehicles could arrive quickly.

While they waited for additional emergency responders to arrive, the Red Crossers directed traffic around the crash. They stayed at the scene to provide statements for the police and insurance companies.

“Rosie looked towards me as we were leaving and said, ‘That could’ve been us,’” Berger said.

After leaving the shocking scene, the two were thankful they were safe and appreciative that they could help. One of the drivers who was injured in the crash contacted Collins and Berger afterward and expressed her gratitude for their aid.

Trained disaster responders, Berger and Collins traveled to Texas as part of Red Cross relief efforts after multiple tornadoes and storms ravaged communities throughout the North Texas Region. Berger is from Arizona, while Collins hails from Louisiana.

“We don’t live in Texas, but we are here for the American Red Cross,” Berger said. “We are here to support the mission of the Red Cross.”

Instinct led Berger and Collins to jump out of their car right away to help strangers at a crowded Dallas intersection. Their actions that Thursday morning speaks not only to their compassion for others but also to the Red Cross' mission to alleviate human suffering by helping others.

“This is what has led to our instinct and response to injured people who need help, and that is what we’ve done,” Collins said. “American Red Cross volunteers have a personality that says I’m here to help.”