Parma Citizen Of The Month Gets A Surprise

Nick Poghen is surprised by his cousin Luke.

Nicholas Poghen was selected to be the Parma Mayor’s Citizen of the Month for April because his quick thinking during a traffic incident saved a fellow citizen’s life. But Nick couldn’t make it to a City Council meeting to be honored for his award until May, so the presentation itself was delayed. 

Good thing, because Nick’s cousin Luke was home on leave from Fort Benning, GA, where he is a paratrooper with the US Army’s 82nd Airborne. While Nick was being honored for his part in taking action to help a woman who was in medical distress, Luke was waiting behind a closed door until his moment to come out and surprise his cousin. 

Nick was being honored because after the driver in the lane next to him had a seizure and swerved off the road, he called 911 and parked his car to help stabilize the situation until emergency help arrived. This wasn’t as simple as it sounds, because the woman’s car crashed, then before Nick could reach in and turn off the ignition, the woman came to, accidentally pressed the accelerator, drove across the street and crashed again. Nick followed and stayed with the woman until help arrived. 

Upon receiving his award, Nick said simply, “I just did what anyone would do. I wasn’t the only one there. There were other people helping, and they deserve this just as much as I do.”  Congratulations, Nick. Go to the Parma Observer Facebook Page and see a video of this event, complete with the surprise entrance of cousin Luke.

Jeannie Roberts

Communications Director for the City of Parma

Read More on News
Volume 7, Issue 6, Posted 8:19 AM, 06.01.2015