On December 16, 2013, Jacksonville.com reprinted a story from the Chicago Sun-Times regarding William “Riley” Knight, 49, of Crown Point, Ind. Knight had married his new wife, Nikki, on Saturday, December 14. About seven hours later, they were driving from their wedding reception around 11:45 p.m. when they saw a woman and her car which had slid off the wintry road near Crown Point. Knight, a combat veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, immediately felt compelled to help, particularly given the late hour and freezing temperatures.
Knight parked his truck in a nearby driveway and his bride waited inside while he assisted Linda Darlington, 42, of Crown Point. The two were standing together by the side of the road when they were struck by a passing vehicle, and then by two more, according to the Lake County, IN sheriff.
Nikki Knight is a registered nurse, and ran out to help her new husband and Ms. Darlington. But when she arrived at the scene, neither Knight nor Darlington had a pulse. Sadly, both were pronounced dead at the scene early Sunday morning. No citations were issued in the incident, which was ruled to have been an accident.
Nikki Knight was quoted, “I went from a being a newlywed to a widow in less than 48 hours — the highest high to the lowest low…It’s a blur.”
Knight is survived by his wife, Nikki, as well as his two daughters from a previous marriage, a stepdaughter and stepson. Linda Darlington was a first-grade teacher at Joan Martin School in Crown Point, and is survived by three children.
This is a tale of great heroism and compassion, which, unfortunately, ended in tragedy. So many of us may have also felt the need to help in a situation such as this, particularly during the holiday season. But before making the decision to act as a “Good Samaritan” after an accident, take a moment to consider the surroundings. Walking around on a roadway is nearly always dangerous, and should be avoided if at all possible. If you witness an accident, CALL EMS as soon as possible. These professionals know how to block off accident scenes properly so that any victims can be attended to and brought to a safe location as quickly as possible.
The Law Offices of Paul J. Healy offer their deepest condolences to the family and friends of William “Riley” Knight and Linda Darlington, along with our most sincere thanks to all US military personnel and veterans for their service and to the teachers who dedicate themselves to the education and well-being of our nation’s children.
