Off-duty deputy jumps in to help woman after crash near County building

A regular walk to the car after work turned into a rescue mission for Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Jamey Hummer on Tuesday afternoon, May 14, when he witnessed a car crash just outside the main County building in San Jose.

The crash happened near the County parking lot across from 70 West Hedding St. A woman driving a minivan had a seizure behind the wheel, hit the accelerator, and slammed into a parked rental car.

“I heard a loud crash coming from the intersection of First Street and Hedding,” Hummer said. “When I got closer, I saw the driver appeared to be suffering from a seizure.”

Without hesitation, Hummer ran toward the wreck, where Doug Feliciano, the County’s facilities security director, also rushed over. The two worked together to help the woman by supporting her neck, checking her breathing, and trying to keep her calm until emergency crews arrived.

“Her minivan pushed the parked car onto our property and into a tree,” Feliciano said. “Deputy Hummer was a calming presence and greatly assisted in this incident.”

Paramedics and firefighters arrived shortly after and took over care. The woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt.

San Jose Police Department investigated and confirmed the crash was caused by a medical emergency. The woman was the only person involved.

Although Hummer had just left the Main Jail and was off the clock, he said responding felt instinctive.

“As first responders, we often find ourselves taking action during an emergency whether we are on duty or not,” Hummer said. “I think our training and desire to make the community safer just kicks in automatically.”

The Sheriff’s Office Command Staff praised Hummer’s quick thinking and the comfort he brought to the woman.

“It’s always uplifting to hear about the actions of our staff, especially in situations like this,” said Assistant Sheriff Michelle Asban. “We’re proud of the calm, composed, and caring response Deputy Hummer provided.”

The woman’s name has not been released out of respect for her privacy. Hummer hasn’t spoken with her since the incident but said he’s thankful he could help.

“I didn’t do anything that any other person wouldn’t do,” he said. “I’m glad I was in a position to be of service.”