While driving his route in California last Tuesday, UPS driver Derrick West came across 75-year-old James Ostermann lying on the ground after his golf cart collided with a truck. Bystanders were calling for help, but West realized Ostermann needed immediate care, so he removed his belt and used it as a tourniquet to slow the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
Medical crews arrived soon after and airlifted him to a hospital, where doctors later told his family that the timing of West’s help likely made a crucial difference. Ostermann has since had four surgeries for serious leg injuries and multiple fractures and is now stable.
On Monday, West met Ostermann’s son, Chris, near the location of the crash. The two shared an emotional moment, and Chris thanked the driver for stepping in when it mattered most.