What started as an annual family Labor Day camping trip in rural Bear Lake County quickly turned into a nightmare Aug. 27 when Leonard “Butch” Chandler of Pocatello was severely injured in an ATV crash.

    Though he suffered extensive head trauma, the quick response from his sister-in-law, Teresa Walker of Pocatello, potentially saved his life. Walker’s quick thinking and life-saving actions have recently been commended by the Idaho State Police with a letter of appreciation for her valor.

    “We give out letters of appreciation when a citizen steps in and demonstrates valor in an emergency situation and it is our way to say thank you,” said Lt. Ismael Gonzalez of the Idaho State Police. “Like if a citizen pulls somebody from a burning car or even by just holding an injured citizen’s hand and telling them they will be alright, these actions can go a long way in saving a person’s life.”

    The incident happened on the afternoon of Aug. 27, when Chandler made a sharp turn on a blind corner and crashed head-on with his 11-year-old grandson’s ATV on Eight Mile Road, a dirt surface trail popular with recreational visitors. The crash occurred near the Forest Service ranger station and Cold Springs Campground, all located in northern Bear Lake County near the border with Caribou County.

    Though his grandson was uninjured in the crash, Chandler suffered extensive head trauma due to a skull fracture, as well as numerous broken ribs and a flesh wound to his elbow. He was not wearing a helmet.

    Walker was at the campsite when the crash occurred and was alerted by other children in the family who frantically ran to her saying, “Uncle Butch has crashed.”         The crash was near the campsite and when Walker and her relatives arrived at the scene, Butch’s grandson was crying over his still body lying on the ground. The sight terrified the family, as Chandler was foaming at the mouth and had blood coming out of his ear, all frightening signs of a traumatic brain injury.

    After struggling to get a cell phone signal, the family contacted 911, but the rural isolation of their location meant paramedics probably wouldn’t have been at the scene for at least an hour.

    “My first thought was that he was going to die right there on that road,” Walker said.

    Luckily, Walker, who is certified in CPR, was able to call her sister, Tasha Pope, who was employed at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello as a nurse. Pope gave Walker medical advice on how to ensure Chandler stayed alert and conscious until the paramedics arrived.

    “We covered him with a blanket, put a pack under his head for comfort, and we kept talking to him, trying to keep him conscious as long as possible,” Walker said of the numerous actions she performed in those tense minutes. “I focused on making sure he was breathing okay and that he was getting plenty of oxygen to his brain. Later, I was pleased when the doctors said his oxygen level was in the 90 percentile.”

    Walker said she tried to stay positive and strong throughout, saying the Lord’s Prayer and continuously reminding him that he was going to make it through okay.

    “It’s very easy to panic and stand to the side during an incident like this,” said Gonzalez, “but she stepped in and showed tremendous courage.”

    The paramedics arrived about 30 to 45 minutes later, Walker said, though “it seemed like a long, long time.” Chandler was first taken to Caribou Memorial Hospital in Soda Springs by ambulance and then was flown by LifeFlight to PMC in Pocatello.

    Despite the severity of his injuries, Chandler was able to walk days after the accident, and though he has suffered memory loss and speech difficulties, he is making steady progress and is high spirits.

    “I have no memory of what happened,” said Chandler, “but I am anxious to get approval from my doctor so I can go hunting and camping again.” Chandler is an avid outdoorsman who uses ATVs and off-road vehicles to help travel in rural areas and transport game during hunting season.

    Though Walker is honored to receive the commendation for her heroism, the real reward is having her family’s beloved Uncle Butch saved and on the road to recovery.

    “I’m thankful my brother-in-law is alive,” she said. “That’s the greatest gift. He is a good man who has always worked hard to support his family. He is loved by his whole family.

    Walker and her husband Vance run the Adult and Child Development Center in Pocatello, which focuses on creating treatment programs for adults and children through counseling and developmental  and behavioral therapy.