IOWA EMT HIT BY CAR TRYING TO HELP MOTORIST

An off-duty Humboldt County EMT was critically injured trying to help a stranded motorist Tuesday night. The accident happened along Interstate 35 near Ellsworth in Hamilton County. Raymond Christianson, 48, was trying to do the right thing. State troopers said he pulled over to help when he was hit by another car that spun out and lost control.

Icy conditions sent Cynthia Thompson's, 16, car spinning, leaving her stranded and facing oncoming traffic along the northbound lanes of I-35. State troopers said a semi driver and Christianson and his wife Jeannette both stopped to help. “That’s their nature, they’re out to help people anytime anybody needs any help. I mean he and his wife are usually the first ones to be there,” said Humboldt County sheriff Dean Kruger

Kruger that Raymond and Jeannette are both are volunteer firefighters in the small town of Bode and are trained EMT's. Any emergency responder will tell you it's just instinct to stop. “They want to help people so when they do come upon an event like that they’re tendency is going to be stop and help,” said Scott Siberski of the Ames Fire Department.

But state troopers said as the couple was trying to help a third car lost control on the icy road hitting Raymond and shoving the two cars off the road and into the ditch. Kruger said it's an unfortunate situation and a risk all emergency responders face when they stop to help. “Basically you put your lives in the hands of them, unfortunately this turned out to be a bad situation,” Kruger said.

Christianson is in critical condition Wednesday night at a Des Moines hospital. Raymond's wife Jeannette had minor injuries.