Addison County firefighter Elmo Madden takes his oath to help protect and serve the community of Addison and others very seriously.
On Sunday, Nov. 29, he went above-and-beyond the call of duty after he stopped to help accident victims after a crash on M-24 and M-90 in Lapeer County. It was during that accident that he was injured in the line of duty.
A total of nine people were injured between the two accidents; eight people were transported to Flint Hurley Medical Center.
According to Madden, he was coming back from up north when he saw the accident in the left turn lane and went to work trying to help the victims. After he blocked traffic with his vehicle and identified himself, he was in the process of helping victims of the accident when he was struck by a passing car.
‘The next thing I know I’m laying about 30 feet away from the car in the middle of the road. I come to and I see a lot of people severely hurt in the middle of the intersection. I tried to get going and I walked about ten feet and then I collapsed,? said Madden.
The next time that Madden woke he was in Hurley Hospital, where he stayed for two days before being released.
After returning to work, he was honored in front of his fellow officers with the Meritorious Service Award.
‘The Addison Township Fire Department would like to recognize Elmo Madden for acting above and beyond the Call of Duty on Nov. 29 for the rescue operations of a person involved in a car crash,? said Fire Chief Jerry Morawski in a memo he sent out.
‘Not only did Elmo take this personal oath, he is living up to this oath. The action Elmo exhibited during this rescue operation is a prime example of a firefighter’s dedication,? Morawski added.
Lapeer County Sheriff Office is still investigating the incident and has not filed charges.