Salvation Army Bell Ringer Struck By Car While Soliciting Donations
ARLINGTON (CBS) -- A Salvation Army bell ringer was hit by a car while soliciting donations outside of a Walgreens on Tuesday afternoon.
Arlington police said the 50-year-old volunteer from Boston was pinned underneath the 2008 Toyota Camry when it drove into the awning of the store on Massachusetts Avenue at 12:47 p.m. He suffered serious, but not life-threatening, leg injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
Emergency responders were at the scene within two minutes. Tony Jamal was working at a nearby service station and brought over a vehicle floor jack and lifted the car off the man.
"I was almost in shock also," said Jamal who works at Antoine Auto Repair. "I just really rushed to put the jack underneath the car and lift it up."
Arlington's police chief credits Jamal for helping save the victim. "The heroism of Tony was extraordinary," Chief Fred Ryan said.
"I don't call myself a hero, I just did the right thing," Jamal said.
Police say the 87-year-old Arlington man driving the car may have believed the front door/awning of Walgreens was a drive-through window. The driver will be cited for operating to endanger, and police also have asked the Registry of Motor Vehicles to review his right to have a license.
"We were saddened to hear about an accident today involving one of our bellringers at a Walgreens location in Arlington," Drew Forster of the Salvation Army said in a statement. "The Salvation Army family has reached out to the bellringer and we offer our prayers for him, the driver, the store employees and customers impacted by this accident. Like many who stand at the red kettles, the bellringer who was injured has benefited in the past from The Salvation Army's services and rings the bell at the red kettle in an effort to give back."
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