Former Army medic helps roadway shooting victim

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A diver medical technician, who was a former Army medic, helped save a man on State Road 408 on Thursday, after that man was found with gunshot wounds inside a car.

"When I ran up to the car she was just screaming," explained Zachary Pamer, who is trained to deal with life and death situations. 

Pamer never thought he would be handling one in the middle of rush hour traffic. He was driving on the 408, when he spotted a white car riddled with bullets and a woman standing by the car screaming. 

"'He's been shot! I'm calling 911!' And I looked in the vehicle and saw the gentleman in there just sluggishly moving, trying to open the door, covered in blood."

The car was locked, so Pamer smashed the window with a head rest.

"I just smashed out the back side of the window of the passenger side, and then the passenger side window to gain access to the car," Pamer said. 

He opened the door and realized the man was shot two times in the head. That's when his training kicked in, he said.

"I just gloved up and jumped in the car and did a quick assessment on him, and said 'I'm gonna get you out of here. My name's Zach. Just keep looking at me, keep talking to me!'"

Authorities are still trying to figure out what led to the shooting that snagged rush hour traffic. Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office said the victim, 21-year-old Craig Arroyo, may have been involved in a crash beforehand and could have been shot someplace else. 

"I heard he hasn't woken up, but he's doing well, and I'm really happy about that," Pamer said.

This hero on the highway was just grateful he was in the right place at the right time. 

"It's a true miracle!"

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).