Just days after her adult son was pulled from burning car, Katy Cherry marveled at the courage of police officers and two bystanders involved in Cottonwood Shores city leaders recognize civilians, first responders saving his life.
“It’s the most insane thing on the planet that they happened to be standing right there and saw it happen,” Lackey’s mother Katy Cherry said of the civilians first on the scene.
“Literally, if they hadn’t seen it happen, he would have been a french fry.”
The incident unfolded at 5:45 p.m. on May 4 in the 4300 block of FM 2147 West in the Cottonwood Shores city limits.
“One of the EMS people just called and said your son’s been in an accident. He’s being life-flighted to Dell-Seton.
That’s all he said,” Katy Cherry said. “My mind fell apart. … George (Cambanis), the officer, helped pull him out. The whole thing was a lot. We got there about the same time the helicopter got there.
“He was on a ventilator, had smoke inhalation. Two days later he was fine.”
Cottonwood Shores Police Officer George Cambanis recounted the details at the scene.
“I had just finished a call for service and received a call on the non-emergency phone from one of the local business managers reporting there’s been a collision on the road, so I head out that way,” Cambanis told The Highlander. “I see a large plume of smoke coming from the area where the crash is off into the ranch area.”
Cottonwood Shores residents Kristopher Overholt and Jared Arp were on the scene seconds after the crash occurred, followed by Cambanis.
“I called over the radio for additional response,” Cambanis continued. “I started asking some of the people who were there on the street, where is the driver, are they already out of the vehicle. They said no.
“I started toward the hole through the fence line where the car went through the fence, myself and those two citizens, we all ran under the fence, ran towards the car,” he added. “The car was actively on fire. “One had a fire extinguisher and attempting
to put out some of the fire.
The whole front vehicle was engulfed. The large oak tree was on fire.”
“I broke one of the windows out, reached in, unlocked the door pulled the door open, used some leverage to open the door.”
Due to the thick brush, Cambanis also sustained injuries from brush and cactus.
“There was a tremenadded. dous amount of smoke,” he said.
All three eventually pulled Lackey to safety.
Fire crews, more officers and EMS workers arrived on the scene to begin caring for the patient and putting out the fire.
“It was an all around effort,” Cambanis told The Highlander.
To overcome concerns about smoke inhalation, Cambanis, along with officers Walton Cotton and Kenneth Dziewulski, was treated and released and placed on administrative leave as a precaution. Cambanis went back to work four days later, May 8.
On May 15, Lackey, family members, the citizens involved, police, fire and emergency workers attended the Cottonwood Shores City Council meeting.
First responders were recognized for their their life saving effort, the family offered thanks and city officials showed their appreciation.
“A lot of people within the police department, the fire department and also the citizens made the difference in someone’s life,” Cottonwood Shores City Adminstrator J.C. Hughes told the audience.
Katy Cherry made a statement telling first responders, “We can’t thank you enough from pulling Dane from this car, caring for him and getting the fire put out. He is a much loved son, nephew, grandchild, friend and boyfriend.
“Dane is loved by so many, and this loss would have broken our hearts and crushed my world,” she “Dane has a huge heart, and I’m sure he will go on to do great things and touch many lives in positive ways. Thank you for risking your lives, so he has a chance to live his.”
Katy’s husband Scott Cherry singled out three people who arrived first on the scene – Cambanis and the two civilians Arp and Overholt.
“Y’all did something you didn’t have to do, and it means a lot,” Scott Cherry said.
The family then made a donation to the Cottonwood Shores Police Officers Association.
Lackey told the crew, “Y’all’s swift and efficient service is the reason I still get to say I love you to all of my loved ones.”
He then quipped, “If you want to go to Hiccups (local tavern), drinks are on me,” which was followed by audience laughter.
Prior to the city council meeting, Katy Cherry expressed her amazement at how it all ended.
“What do you say about someone who puts their lives at risk and pulls your kid out of a burning car,” she said. “There’s no way to describe it but angels walking on the earth.”
Police Chief Johnny Liendo told The Highlander, “The time that they got there was critical. This is what they do. We’re just fortunate that my guys who got injured, they’re going to be okay. They deserve all the credit.”
