Commendations for a police officer, off-duty firefighter, and passers-by, for helping at fatal crash scene

Seven people were commended by Surrey Police for helping at the scene of a car crash in Cranleigh.
From left: PC William Davies, Elliot Moger, Joss Rowlands, T/Chief Superintendent Jon Savell, Ruth Culley, Dylan MacDermot, Dr Abhishek Tangri and Dr Matt Clark.From left: PC William Davies, Elliot Moger, Joss Rowlands, T/Chief Superintendent Jon Savell, Ruth Culley, Dylan MacDermot, Dr Abhishek Tangri and Dr Matt Clark.
From left: PC William Davies, Elliot Moger, Joss Rowlands, T/Chief Superintendent Jon Savell, Ruth Culley, Dylan MacDermot, Dr Abhishek Tangri and Dr Matt Clark.

The Divisional Commendation ceremony was held at The Refectory, Guildford Cathedral, on Wednesday May 25.

The full commendation read: “On the afternoon of the 20th October 2015, a vehicle travelling at high speed entered the village of Cranleigh on the Horsham Road.

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“This vehicle was travelling at approximately 60 mph and as a result of a medical episode the driver lost control hit the kerb fatally struck a pedestrian walking on the pavement.

“The vehicle finally came to a halt when it struck a lamppost. The elderly occupants were left trapped inside the vehicle.

“Police Constable William Davies was the first officer to arrive at the collision and dealt with the initial scene, locating the three people involved. The pedestrian the driver and passenger.

“There were large numbers of the community nearby from the local garage, medical practice and veterinary surgery, who vitally assisted with medical care and endeavouring to make the scene safe. Upon hearing the collision William Duarte Lambert, (who can not be here tonight) who works in the local petrol station, called the emergency services and then ran over to assist with the casualties.

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“Off duty fire officer Dylan MacDermot assisted immediately and without hesitation made the scene safe. He arranged for the dangerously leaning lamppost to be propped up by a ladder, and gave the elderly couple reassurance in their car.

“Dylan removed items such as seating in order to assist his firefighting colleagues to extract them from the vehicle. Also helping Dylan was off-duty Police Inspector Bob Jenkin.

“Bob assisted by supporting the car to keep it steady and comforted the elderly couple. Passing motorist Elliot Moger stopped and assisted with the trapped couple in the vehicle, Elliot helped by propping up the elderly driver’s head and shoulders until the emergency services arrived.

“Doctor Debbie Donovan (who unfortunately cannot be here tonight) took control of the medical element at the scene along with her colleagues Dr Matt Clark, Dr Abhishek, Dr Neil Wellappili and health care assistant Joss Rowlands from the medical practice, ably assisted by Ruth Culley and Katherine Tucker from the Veterinary Surgery.

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“This was a distressing and traumatic scene for all involved, yet everyone worked tirelessly to help in any way they could to protect and reassure the public.

“I hope that each and every one of you share great pride as a community for the actions you took that afternoon.

“For the excellent team work and the compassion shown at a harrowing road traffic collision, I am pleased to present a Divisional Commendation to: PC William Davies, Dylan MacDermot, Dr Matt Clark, Dr Abhishek Tangri, Joss Rowlands, Ruth Culley, and Elliot Moger.”

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