Broward prom-bound students in help crash victims

Western High School students aid driver of rolled over minivan

DAVIE, Fla. – Seniors at Western High School in Broward County heading to prom stopped to help the victims of a rollover crash on Interstate 595.

The crash happened about 6:43 p.m. Saturday. Limousine driver Danny Izzi had picked up the 20 students and was taking them to a beach hotel when he saw the Honda Odyssey flip over right in front of him.

"The only thing I remember is them yelling, ‘Get out of the car! Gimme your hand! Do something!'" said Karen Exalien, who was driving the minivan.

Exalien, 28, tried avoiding traffic that was braking in front of her, veered left, hit a concrete barrier wall, and rolled over, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

"I got out right away," said Izzi.

"As soon as he got out, I got out. He went to the front and I went to the back," said student Peter Kim.

The tuxedo-clad teenagers grabbed mothers and children. Krista Pulcini forgot about her white gown as she ran to help the bloodied victims.

"I have to help them," she told WPLG-TV.  "I saw this little boy coming to me. I said, ‘Where's your mom?' He was shocked."

"She was screaming, ‘Where's my baby,'" said Kim. "I went over, grabbed the baby, and told her your baby is fine."

"It's a memorable experience. Something I will never forget," said student Frank Tucker.

"When you help someone like that, it's right there in the heart," said Izzi.

"I was like are they coming from a wedding? We just ruined these people's wedding," said Exalien. "I can't thank them enough. They really did their thing that day."

Exalien was cited for failure to use due care along with a child restraint violation.