A 23-year-old Alabama woman, injured in the New Year's Day truck attack in New Orleans, credited her mother's immediate instructions for potentially saving her life. Alexis Scott-Windham was celebrating New Year's Eve in the French Quarter when the attack occurred. The incident, which left 14 dead and numerous injured, involved suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar ramming a rented truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street.
Scott-Windham, struck by the truck and subsequently injured by gunfire exchanged between Jabbar and police, was able to secure help from friends by calling her mother, Tryphena Scott-Windham. The mother's instructions, based on previous observations of emergency procedures, led to the application of a makeshift tourniquet. This critical, unplanned first aid likely contributed to stemming the flow of blood.
"I just told my daughter's friend to tie her other sock around her leg," said Tryphena Scott-Windham. "I just blurted that out. I was in straight panic mode." In a subsequent interview, Alexis added, "I was just thankful...I was just grateful."
Remarkably, the quick thinking saved Scott-Windham, who, after receiving initial care, was taken to a hospital by strangers. The incident had a lasting effect on her, causing both physical and mental anguish.
Scott-Windham, who is also a mother of a one-year-old, lost work time due to the attack. She launched a GoFundMe campaign to support herself and her child's needs. Amazon, where she works, later clarified that her request for time off was approved, a matter that initially caused confusion.
The attack, carried out by Jabbar, who pledged allegiance to ISIS and is believed to have acted alone, resulted in considerable loss of life and injury. Authorities are investigating Jabbar's radicalization, including a 2023 trip to Egypt. The investigation will likely uncover a broader timeline of his actions and decisions leading up to the New Year's Day attack.
