Trunk Lid, Recovered

While on street duty in Radio Motor Patrol Car 1250 on Forsyth and Delancey Streets on the morning of September 11, 2001, Police Officer Marcelo Pevida saw a low flying airplane overhead as his partner for the day, Detective William Moy, was issuing a summons to a driver who had run a red light. Within seconds they heard an explosion and began driving downtown. Heading south against traffic on Church Street, within moments they had parked at the intersection of Vesey, Church and Greenwich Streets and began helping injured survivors and others evacuate from the World Trade Center. Directed by Detective Moy to move their patrol car so that ambulances and other emergency vehicles could get closer to the scene, Officer Pevida back the car along Vesey Street toward Church Street, while using its public address system to urge the crowds to move. Hearing Detective Moy yell "Look Out Mars!" Officer Pevida looked up to see a fireball exploding and reflexively ducked under the steering wheel as sheared-off parts of Flight 175 crashed onto the roof and trunk of the patrol car, covering him with shattered glass. Officer Pevida credits both Detective Moy and the bullet-proof glass and steel "cage" separating the front and back seats of the patrol car with saving his life.