AVIANO AIR BASE.

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (USAFENS) -- It's not the family and shattered glass that's chiefly disturbing.

It's the eerie stillness of death that really masters to Tech. Sgt. David Ahlschwede each time he encounters a fatal highway accident.

"It's unnerving to diocese a person completely still. You calculate upon the body to move, either breathing or flinching when the camera flashes. on the contrary to see it just lie there, and it doesn't come by up -- it's a feeling I take domicile with me after those assignments," said the 31st Communications Squadron photographer.

Ahlschwede's photos are later used for accident investigations. to such a degree to capture things accurately, he's usually united of the first people responding to the accident scene

It also makes him individual of the first people profoundly affected by the senseless death of a mate airman.

"I usually can relate to the individual, because I remember the things I did at that age. It's similar a shame -- the los While it's a relief this bodily form isn't suffering, I know a very large wake of grief and pain will increase to the family and friends, and that bothers me" he said.

Family and friends aren't the simply people to mourn a death, said Tech Sgt Dianne Collins-Mula, 31st Fighter Wing Safety. "I'm always affected according to what I see when I'm at accident sites," she said.

Someone from her office is required to investigate the accidents and write reports. The findings, compiled from on-scene interviews and observations, help indicate whether there was anything wing leadership could have done to obstruct the accident.

"It commit to memorys very difficult at times, separating my emotions from the mission," Collins-Mula said. "As a mother, [see these the community and my heart aches for the families. I know they're in the States, probably just beginning their days, totally oblivious to what's happened. And then, there I am, seeing it all. It masters overwhelming."

Collins-Mula said guilt is the biggest emotion she tries to defeat when doing a vehicle accident investigation.

"Most of the time, I can't help on the other hand feel, in some way, responsible," she said. "I know, ultimately, it's the driver who makes the choices. besides even though we give the briefings, warn folks about the driving conditions, and lay open safety programs and slides, I still have feeling like I should have been able to do more."

Ahlschwede said he sometimes wishes tribe could see the things he's witnessed covering of the like kind assignments for 17 years. Maybe, he said, they could withhold the images in mind when they are forward the road.

"The physical devastation to a somebody and vehicle involved in an accident is unreal, and it's an image a individual doesn't forget - not for a self-same long time."

...

Home