MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Cpl. Eric M. Stephens always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time.
You might say he has been a guardian angel in several circumstances, including a recent single-car collision along Interstate 5.
While helping a buddy near the freeway, they heard a loud crash and saw a car emerge from a cloud of dust and head toward onrushing traffic.
"We were on the on-ramp fastening items on the bed of his truck, and then all of a sudden, we heard a noise. We looked over and saw this car go into the dirt area of the on-ramp," said Stephens, a computer instructor at the 1st Force Service Support Group's training center.
Apparently, the driver suddenly experienced a diabetic attack, causing him to lose control of his vehicle.
As the car moved toward the onslaught of cars, Stephens ran toward the impending fray.
"I ran to the highway, because I knew that if the car was hit, then that is where I was going to have to be in order to help out faster," Stephens said.
Luckily for Stephens and the driver, the car hit a tree.
As Stephens rushed to the car, his friend redirected traffic until the authorities showed up.
The victim, Ralph C. Vankummer, regained consciousness when his car hit the tree. He suffered a severe laceration to his head. Stephens reached the driver and began administering first aid.
"I just tried to help as much as I could while the emergency personnel came," Stephens said. "I was talking to the man about anything and everything."
Two registered nurses who witnessed the accident stopped immediately and began helping the victim.
While the group waited for paramedics, the vehicle erupted in flames. Stephens, along with California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Thomas, the first emergency responder on the scene, and another citizen removed Vankummer from the vehicle and carried him to safety.
It's not the first time Stephens found himself on a rescue mission during his five-year career in the Corps.
In December 1997, Stephens and a friend attended to an accident caused by two speeding Marines.
"I remember the road being wet, and the car zoomed past us and then hit a minivan down the road," said Stephens. "When we got to the scene, I went to check on the car with the two Marines, since it looked to me that the car sustained most of the damage. The two Marines were OK, and I went to check on the minivan."
Before arriving at the minivan, Stephens found a person who had been thrown from the vehicle.
"I asked the lady on the ground if she was a passenger and she replied 'No, I 'm the driver. I was not wearing a seat belt,'" Stephens recalled.
The speeding car's impact had catapulted the lady through the passenger side window, Stephens said.
That was just the beginning of Stephens' tour as a guardian angel.
In 1998 in his hometown of Shingle Springs, a car apparently speeding while making a turn hit an embankment and rolled over a couple of times, Stephens said.
"I was driving in the opposite lane and saw this car begin to roll over," he said. "I immediately got out of my car and ran to see what had happened - if I could help in any way. I assisted the man in escaping the turned vehicle," he said.
Both men were astonished that the man escaped serious injury.
Then, destiny called on Stephens once again.
While at a unit function, Stephens was helping judge a swimming competition. A little girl participating in the race started floundering. Stephens alertly jumped in and plucked her out.
"I noticed the little girl was doing good in the shallow part, but once she got to the deep end, I guess she got tired and just started to go under," Stephens said.
Stephens thinks he has figured out a pattern - and wants to warn people.
"Big things tend to happen around me about every four years or so," he said.
"Don't be near me around Feb. 17, 2006, for something might happen, and I might have to save yet another life."