Heroes Who Saved Accident Victim’s Life recognized
At its final regular December meeting of 2022, the Fanwood Borough Council and Mayor Colleen Mahr honored the people they called true heroes for intervening during an October automobile accident in which the driver suffered cardiac arrest.
Bridget Keyes, a nurse from Berkeley Heights, went unconscious on October 25, 2022, and crashed her car into a fire hydrant on Martine Avenue. Rose Budka, a radiology technician who happened to be driving by, stopped to assist, assessed that Keyes had no pulse, and began CPR. Another passerby, Scotch Plains Fire Battalion Chief Dennis Hercel, also stopped and joined the life-saving effort by taking over CPR. Additional Scotch Plains Fire and Fanwood Fire units responded. Ultimately, Ms. Keyes was transported to a hospital with a pulse. She recovered and had a defibrillator implanted and made a full recovery.
“It was determined by hospital staff that the quick reaction by Ms. Budka and Battalion Chief Hercel, along with other responders, is the sole reason the victim survived the incident,” read Mayor Mahr from the proclamation.
Keyes, Budka and Hercel were reunited at the Council meeting, each receiving a copy of the proclamation. Ms. Keyes had hugs for Ms. Budka and Mr. Hercel and expressed gratitude during brief remarks. She told the Council that doctors are still unsure why her heart stopped as she had no apparent underlying condition or previous history of heart problems.
