Louisville Nursing Student Rushes to Aid I-264 Crash Victim, Discovers Fatal Gunshot Wound

Good Samaritans stepped out of their automobiles to assist after witnessing a car roll over on the Watterson Expressway on Thursday. Later, they discovered that the driver had died from a gunshot wound.

On Thursday evening, the witness who talked with WDRB was driving eastbound on Interstate 264 near Breckenridge Lane on his way to nursing school.

The car flipped over in front of her, triggering her training and reflexes.

“It’s my first time seeing something so traumatic,” Rocio Diaz said.

Diaz thought it was just another day — until it wasn’t.

“I left work. I was on my way to class when something happened. “It was so sudden, and the car was just there, flipped upside down,” Diaz explained.

The prospective nurse did not hesitate. “It’s time to use my knowledge on people that need help,” says Diaz. She attempted to discover a pulse during traffic.

“I felt the need to hop up, hop out of my car, and try to help this guy in the moment,” Diaz told me. “I was not shocked. I wasn’t feeling stressed. “My only goal was to get this guy out alive.”

According to Louisville police, the crash occurred around 4:30 p.m., when a man driving a black Honda flipped and collided with two other vehicles.

The man died on the scene, but when police came, they discovered the driver had a fatal gunshot wound. “Even though we didn’t get to save him, we did the best that we could,” Diaz told the crowd.

Police said the driver was the only one in the car, but it’s unclear when or how he was shot.

Diaz stated she saw a gunshot wound. “I hope his family is ok,” Diaz remarked. “I hope his soul rests in peace.”

The drivers of the other two vehicles involved in the incident were not wounded, but traffic on I-264 was backed up for hours.

“It made me want to continue more, maybe want to study, want to learn,” Diaz said to me. “So, what can I do? “What else could I do?” Others reported sitting in gridlock for more than two hours following the crash. The victim’s name has not been released.

Diaz shared her story in the hopes of motivating other people to pursue a profession in nursing.

“One day, I’m going to be somebody’s hero, and I’m going to save somebody’s life.”

Reference: Louisville nursing student jumps into action after I-264 crash, finds victim with fatal gunshot