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Fire captain responds to victim ran over, finds her own mother

68-year-old woman in critical condition after being ran over in Westmorland - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

WESTMORLAND, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) -

What started as a routine call became one fire captain's worst nightmare when she found her 68-year old mother on the ground fighting for her life. To make matters worse, the driver ran off.

Now the family is asking him to come forward and face justice.

Brandie Dahm is a fire captain with the Westmorland Fire Department. She's used to responding to these types of calls, victims needing help, it's her job. But last Thursday, she encountered her worst nightmare.

“I threw my boots on and headed over to the scene and as soon as I got there I saw a person lying in the road and a wheel chair," she said.

Something she didn't want to dare imagine, now becoming a reality.

“When I arrived on scene and I saw the wheel chair and I saw the person I kind of had a moment where I was like oh my God that’s my mom,” she said.


68-year-old Wendy Hall was in her wheel chair coming back from the store when she was hit by a trailer truck.

Her daughter stoic as she surveyed the scene.

“But I got to be honest when I got there I just froze for 30 seconds like I don’t know what to do,” she said.

But Dahms training kicked in and she was able to stop the bleeding to save her mother's life. The driver however is still on the loose.

Joseph Thunderburg is the victims brother. He says the family wants the suspect to come forward.

"Just turn yourself in, please, we know accidents happen," he said.

"I’m not angry at the man who hit my mom obviously it was an accident, I am angry he left her on the side of the road like trash," Brandie Dahm said.

The incident is being ruled as a hit-and-run, anyone with information is asked to contact the Westmorland Police Department.

A Go-Fund-Me has been created by the family to help with medical expenses.

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Wiley Jawhary

Wiley Jawhary is from Orange County California. He joined KYMA/KSWT in April of 2021.

Reach out to Wiley with story ideas and tips at wiley.jawhary@kecytv.com.

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