Radnor officer recalls heroic efforts on icy highway

RADNOR, Pa. (WPVI) -- It was icy conditions that crippled the roadways, caused one pile-up after another, and took lives.

Radnor Township policeman James Gallagher was standing on the Blue Route (I-476) when it happened.

"Oh it was icy, very icy and it happened very quickly I think," Gallagher said.

Officer Gallagher was fresh off a 12-hour shift and on his way home on I-476 southbound Sunday morning when he spotted a car that had slammed into the wall.

He jumped out to help.

Seconds later, more vehicles started sliding and crashing on the icy highway.

"For like the next three minutes, you hear the bangs because cars are still sliding into each other," said Gallagher.

The former SEPTA cop who has been with Radnor Township for a year was helping the injured when a tractor trailer jackknifed causing three cars to slam into it.

The officer first encountered driver Thomas Brennan of Lansdale who was unconscious. Then he saw Jason Anderson of Dover, Delaware.

'He wasn't responding at all," Gallagher recounted. "The wife was in the passenger seat. She was screaming for help and then she starts talking about her baby."

Another person moved Anderson's wife to safety while Gallagher worked to save their trapped baby. The mother and son survived, but Anderson and Brennan died.

"My heart goes out to them. I believe the baby is okay and I think the mom is okay as well and as unfortunate as everything is...that's the important thing," said Gallagher.

He is just thankful he was there.

"Anyone else who was there would have done the same thing but I was there and I'm glad if had to be somebody it was me," he said.

Officer Gallagher praised other off duty first responders who also happened upon that Blue Route pileup Sunday.

With more bad weather coming this way Wednesday, his familiar warning to drivers is just slow down and if you don't have to go out, don't.