As Steven Lee Hudson was driving his Harley Davidson south on South Hampton Drive in Bryans Road early one morning last year, a deer crossed his path and he was thrown from the motorcycle. As he lay on the ground injured from the crash, a group of middle school students and high school freshmen who were nearby ran over to help him as police and emergency services personnel were responding.
Those children, Coneisha Smith, Wale Onakoya, Tope Onakoya, Jaquay McGee, Keisha McNeill and Kayla Thompson, all received certificates of appreciation for their courageous efforts from Charles County Sheriff Frederick E. Davis Aug. 22 at the Sheriff's Headquarters in La Plata. Hudson, who survived his injuries and has made great progress in his recovery, also attended the presentation to offer his personal thanks to all the children who, in addition to their help at the scene, also sent Hudson many "get well" cards.
"I am very proud of these kids because, even though they were scared, they took immediate action to help Mr. Hudson," said Sheriff Davis. "I know Mr. Hudson was scared, too. No one wants to be alone when in a situation like that and these kids made sure he wasn't."
The crash occurred Sept. 22, 2004 shortly after 8 a.m. just prior to where South Hampton Drive and Sir Douglas Court intersect. Hudson was flown to the shock trauma center at Prince George's General Hospital with serious injuries.
The Sheriff's Office will formally honor the children at its biennial awards banquet that will be held next year.