It’s being called the “Miracle at Mile Marker 101” and has gained national attention. The moment a box truck being driven too fast for the slick, icy conditions spun and plowed directly into a vehicle with a flat tire that had just been tended to by Illinois State Police.
The frightening footage was captured by ISP dashcam as well as by a samaritan who had pulled over to call in the initial accident that led to the flat tire. Trooper Adam Zimmerman noticed at the last minute the truck careening directly towards himself, his fellow officer only 9 days into the job and one of the passengers. The troopers’ “muscle memory” and quick efforts meant a near miss that could’ve ended much worse than Peggy Vaught’s broken wrist. The Illinois State Police hosted the reunion between Zimmerman and Trooper Jonathan Pflaum with Wilbur “Bud” and his wife of 50 years Peggy Vaught Wednesday morning.
Mrs. Vaught says she and her husband were on their way to the Marion Veterans Affairs Hospital when they hit an ice patch and ended up in a ditch. Rick’s Towing came and pulled the vehicle out of the ditch and only a flat tire kept them from continuing on their trek. Someone had called Illinois State Police. Troopers Zimmerman and Pflaum arrived on scene and changed the tire in the blistering cold. Bud Vaught said it was just 5 degrees that morning when they left. Pflaum finished changing the tire and the law enforcement officers had just finished telling them to run up to the next exit and check the tire pressure. And that’s when it happened.
Kathy Wheeler, the couples daughter, explains what happened after the driver from Rick’s Towing called her to let her know.
Trooper Jonathan Pflaum worked about 6 years with Mt. Carmel and Olney Police Departments before coming aboard with the Illinois State Police. He was on just Day 9 of his run with ISP when the incident happened though and said when things happen in an instant, you don’t have time to think about what to do.
You can see the entire press conference with Troopers Zimmerman and Pflaum as well as Bud and Peggy Vaught on our social media presence including WROY WRUL News on facebook.
