Two Saturdays ago, Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden and bystanders stepped in and helped save the life of an 11 year-old boy in an horrific accident. Van Orden and family were on their way to Iowa when he saw the accident in his rearview mirror. 

“I’m watching a Dodge Grand minivan disintegrate. It seemed to drift off the road at about 70 miles per hour, more so on the passenger side of the car. My wife, Sarah, was like, what happened? I looked at it, I said, someone just died,” The Congressman told the Washington Examiner. 

Van Orden reportedly pulled his car over the grass median and up to the accident to assist. “I ran to the passenger side, where all the damage was, and there was this 11-year-old kid, and I looked at him, and his calf, which is about as big as my thigh, was completely ripped apart, so I could see his tibia and his fibula, just a big chunk of him bleeding. And he had an arterial bleed in his right wrist,” Van Orden said.

The Congressman, also an ex-Navy SEAL, ran back to his car where he used two of his socks from his suitcase to form tourniquets for the child’s legs and arms. The Congressman was also assisted by an Iowa farmer and female medic in the area who came to help. (RELATED: Wisconsin Dairy Industry Triumphs Against Out-of-State Interests)

“It took about 10 to 15 minutes. He would’ve bled to death,” Van Orden said, noting that paramedics were quick to respond, but were still miles away. “He would’ve been gone,” said Van Orden. 

The Iowa State Police stated the accident occurred when a mini van tried to merge on to the highway from the shoulder when it hit a semi truck. No fatalities were reported. (RELATED: Democratic Governor Joins the MAHA Movement)