‘I KILLED MY BEST FRIEND’S SISTER’

Still bearing a physical scar on his left arm from a texting and driving crash just more than three years ago, Senior Airman Caleb Zody says the emotional scars from that day are much tougher to overcome. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Brittany Chase)

‘I KILLED MY BEST FRIEND’S SISTER’

After rolling his 1994 Honda Accord three times, Zody had to have 4 inches of muscle stitched together and sewn back into his left arm and multiple stitches and staples put into his head. His car, pictured, shows the blood-soaked driver’s seat stained by his severe head injury, leaving little wonder why the Airman suffered a concussion and memory loss. (Courtesy photo)

‘I KILLED MY BEST FRIEND’S SISTER’

Jacqlyn's twin sister, Jessica, was not wearing a seat belt and died in the crash. (Courtesy photo)

GIRL ON FIRE!

Still holding onto her scorched flight suit, Staff Sgt. Erica Luke said she was “beyond happy” that it worked as advertised. She said she had always been taught that a flight suit was fire-retardant up to 700 to 800 degrees. But she admitted she was surprised that it was able to deflect most of the flash fire that enveloped her. She now stores the charred flight suit in a shadow box … protecting it as it once protected her. (Courtesy photo)

GIRL ON FIRE!

Valve similar to the valves attached to the oxygen tanks used by Staff Sgt. Luke to replenish the Cessna's oxygen system. (Courtesy photo)

GIRL ON FIRE!

Two months after the March 2007 accident, Luke met her future husband, Staff Sgt. Alexander Luke. They now have two daughters, Riley, 4, and Mya, 3, who once saw one of her mommy’s scars, pointed and asked, “Boo-boo hurt?” (Courtesy photo)

FOUR-FINGER DISCOUNT?

Table saws are the most common way Airmen lose fingers, accounting for nearly one-third of the Air Force’s 94 finger amputations this past decade, according to Air Force Safety Center statistics. (Illustration by Tech. Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

DISTRESS CALL

T-6A Texan II aircraft flying in formation (Photos by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

TRAIN SLAMS INTO PARADE

Midland police, fire and sheriffs respond to an accident where a semi trailer carrying veterans in a parade was struck by a train crossing Garfield. (Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram)

Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award

Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for ground safety for fiscal 2012 (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

Torch Magazine Backcover Winter 2012

Torch Magazine Backcover Winter 2012

REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT

The MQ-1 Predator was the second most flown airframe last year; second only to the C-17. Despite a dramatic increase in the number of flying hours for remotely piloted aircraft, mishap rates are improving for these airframes. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Effrain Lopez)