Two medical students helped save the life of a man whose leg was severed and later amputated when a car drove through the front of a Sam's Club discount store Tuesday afternoon.
It happened shortly before 1 p.m. at the Sam's in the 600 block of N. Frederick Avenue (Route 355) in Gaithersburg, Md.
Authorities said Subinoy Mazumdar, 77, was driving a Buick LeSabre and traveling at a high rate of speed when he struck a 31-year-old woman in the parking lot, who managed to move her two young children out of the way. She has been identified as Sheila R. Orellana of Derwood. Mazumdar then crashed through two closed metal doors in the front of the building, hitting two men in the food court.
"He was showing no emotions," one witness said. "People inside the store had to get him out of the car, a guy had to put the car in park for him and he was just stnading there like... 'Big deal.'"
Inside the foodcourt, 76-year-old Dimas Chaves' leg was severely injured in the accident.
"[His leg] was almost completely off and he was bleeding profusely," ensign John Hunt said.
Hunt and Wells Weymouth, a second lieutenant also enrolled in Uniformed Services University used their belts to stop the man's leg from bleeding.
"I would say we worked on instinct," Weymouth said.
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Chaves had his leg amputated in the accident. His injuries are considered life-threatening. He was airlifted to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.
Authorities said the other male victim, 33-year-old Thaan Buithuan of Boyds, has serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Mazumdar, of North Potomac, remained on the scene during the investigation. He suffered minor injuries.
Witnesses said that prior to the crash, they saw him honking at another car in a parking space before speeding away from that car.
Authorities said they didn't yet know what led to the incident, but said they are not aware of any medical conditions of the driver that may have caused it.
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