Bystanders rush to help in Oak Creek crash that killed 20-year-old man
Updated: 3:36 p.m. on July 30, 2026
OAK CREEK, Wis. -- Before first responders arrived at a deadly crash on I-94 in Oak Creek, an off-duty EMT and other bystanders rushed to help a 20-year-old man.
The crash happened near the Rawson Avenue exit and shut down northbound I-94 overnight. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says Mohamed Haris Bin Mohamed Hanif was killed when his vehicle hit the back of a semi at a high speed while the semi was slowing in a construction zone.
The off-duty EMT, who asked to remain anonymous, said she immediately focused on helping Hanif.
“The only thing I could think about was him being on the ground and starting lifesaving measures, there was nothing else in my mind,” she said.
She said she found Hanif on the ground after the crash and began CPR.
“First thing we did was rolled him over and started CPR as soon as we could,” she said.
The EMT said she was not the only person who stopped to help. She said people leaving a church across the highway jumped over a fence after hearing the crash.
“There was people jumping over the fence from a church that was right across and there was a bunch of different nurses and EMTs that tried to help,” she said.
Heather Triplett said her daughter was one of the first people to reach him.
“My daughter won't tell you, but she jumped out of the moving car and ran. When I finally got out of the car, I saw her skidding on the ground with glass to get to the man. She was the first one to get to him,” Triplett said.
The sheriff’s office said deputies and first responders continued lifesaving efforts after arriving, but Hanif died at the scene.
The anonymous EMT said those first moments after a crash can be critical.
“It’s bystanders that often provide the first lifesaving efforts until 911 is called and they get to the scene, so being CPR certified gave him a fighting chance at first,” she said.
Triplett said the people who stopped showed the impact of helping someone in need.
“We lost this one, that was such a tragedy. There are so many more that get saved by these wonderful people and everyone really should respect EMTs and ambulances,” Triplett said.