Partner John Bebes pulls man from smoking car—now that’s what we call a hero

“Hero” is not a term we usually associate with “auditor,” at least not in the “faster than a speeding bullet” sense. But recently, one PMer revealed himself to be exactly that. I’d like to share the story with you now.

A couple of Saturdays ago, a man lost control of his car and careened off the freeway, crashing into some bushes about 30 feet outside of our Southfield, Michigan office. Since a few TV stations came out to cover the story, John Bebes, partner in charge of our not-for-profit practice, called our office managing partner to let her know.

Here’s what he didn’t mention. When the accident occurred, he and Kris Ray, a senior manager, saw the accident occur. Kris immediately called 911, and John dashed out of the office. Our security cameras show him racing down the stairs and rolling up his sleeves. He ran out to the truck, which was engulfed in smoke, and saw that the driver was unresponsive. Unsure whether the man was alive, John pulled him from the smoking car.

The man was alive. Once he had a chance to get some fresh air, he became coherent, and when the first responders arrived, he was even able to stand and get himself on the stretcher.

When we asked John why he didn’t mention any of this, he humbly said, “Anybody would have done it.”

I don’t know if that’s the case, but John Bebes did it, and we’re all very proud of him. He may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but he’s our very own Plante Moran Superman.

So what do you think? Would anybody race toward that smoking car and pull the driver to safety? Or does it take a special combination of gut instinct and selflessness? Have you or anyone you know pulled off a similar heroic feat? We’d love to hear about it.