By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Friday wasn’t the first time Bruce Trout pulled over to help a motorist in need. But this time, as the Bowling Green man was checking on the driver of a vehicle on its side, he became a victim himself.
Trout, 32, was struck by another vehicle as he was helping a driver who had just been hit on Ohio 25, at the U.S. 6 interchange. According to a GoFundMe account set up for Trout, his femoral artery was severed down to the bone.
According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, an eastbound vehicle exiting Route 6 onto Route 25 around 6:25 a.m. failed to yield and hit a southbound vehicle, flipping the vehicle and sending it skidding across the median into northbound traffic.
Two Good Samaritans stopped to help – Trout and Morgan Boggs, an EMT for North Baltimore EMS.
The official crash report is not complete, but Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said the two were huddled near the overturned vehicle, assisting the driver, when another northbound vehicle changed lanes to avoid Boggs’ stopped vehicle with flashing lights. In the dark, the driver reportedly didn’t see the Good Samaritans.
Both Trout and Boggs were struck, though Boggs avoided serious injury. Upon seeing Trout’s leg, Boggs used another bystander’s belt as a tourniquet.
However, according to Bowling Green Police Division, the makeshift tourniquet couldn’t create enough pressure to stop the bleeding. So Bowling Green Police Officer Tyson Richman used a tourniquet that all BG officers are equipped with.
“It was able to cut the blood flow off,” said Bowling Green Police Lt. Dan Mancuso.
Trout has had numerous surgeries, according to a GoFundMe account set up to help defray medical costs for Trout and his wife, Andrea, who are expecting their first child on Dec. 1.
There is “a very good chance” his leg will need to be amputated, the GoFundMe page said.
“This loving man will not be able to watch his daughter be born and has a very, very long recovery in front of him,” wrote family friend Brooke Amos, who created the GoFundMe page. “He is expected to stay hospitalized for weeks to months. Best case scenario he will be in a rehab facility for months after leaving the hospital.”
It comes natural for Trout to help someone in need, according to his wife, Andrea.
“He’s done this before like once or twice so it’s in his good nature to do stuff like this,” Andrea Trout said said to Channel 13 News. “I could never be mad at him for doing something like this, to help someone else. That’s just who he is.”
Amos said that Bruce Trout, who works at Gordon Lumber, remains in a medically-induced coma in a Toledo area hospital, with more surgeries possible.
“He’s the sweetest, the most generous person,” Amos said.
Meanwhile, Andrea is due any day now. “She’s hanging in their pretty good,” Amos said.
Wasylyshyn said in his budget request for next year, he had already asked for tourniquets for all sheriff’s officers. This incident reinforces his desire to equip them with the tourniquets.
The sheriff also praised the efforts of the Good Samaritans.
“We really appreciate people who stop and render First Aid,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that one of the Good Samaritans was injured while risking his life for other people.”
