A Good Samaritan
Alumni & Friends, Summer/Fall 2005

Driving across Iowa on a snowy highway last December, Cliff O'Beirne knew he needed to focus on driving. The temperature hovered near 10 degrees and he had neglected to wear a coat, a common oversight for the UW-Whitewater psychology professor. It was Christmas Day and he was looking forward to spending the holiday at his in-laws’ home in Grundy Center, Iowa.

Suddenly, across the median, he watched as three vehicles skidded and crashed into each other. O’Beirne pulled over and parked, then ran to the site. One of the cars was on fi re. He and three others pulled a woman from the passenger seat of the fl aming car through the window because the door was jammed. He carried her to the median and knelt beside her, talking quietly and holding her hand even though she did not respond. When an ambulance fi nally arrived, he helped load her inside while warming the IV’s in his hands so they would function.

Nearby another victim of the crash went into convulsions. O’Beirne helped load him into a med-fl ight helicopter. After the emergency vehicles left, he fi lled out police reports.

An amazing story? Not so, if you know Clifford O’Beirne. – Jane Provorse