Waynesburg nursing students injured helping crash victim on I-79

GREENE COUNTY, Pa.,None — Three Waynesburg University nursing students are recovering after jumping off an overpass on Interstate 79 Monday.

Officials said the students stopped on the highway to help an accident victim and had to get out of the way when they noticed another car coming at them.

Cami Abernethy and Alyysa Boyle jumped at least 50 feet off of the overpass onto a grassy hillside.

A third student, Joshua Brewer, didn’t jump all the way to the ground. He was hanging on the side of the bridge and was able to pull himself back up once it was safe.

Waynesburg University spokesperson Robin King said she is proud that the three students stopped to help Derek Hartzog after he fell asleep while driving and crashed.

“They are definitely heroes,” King said. “They created a very selfless act. It was very courageous on their behalf.”

Jon Ledyard, who is friends with the students, said they were prepared for a situation like this.

“They have had a lot of conversations as nursing students as a group about what would happen if they encountered an accident,” Ledyard said.

Abernathy and Boyle are at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown in fair condition, officials said.

WPXI