The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

HAND-WRITTEN MEMORANDUM

To: Captain Hanna

From: PO P Lucas #968
Date: 12/10/01

Subject: September 11, 2001

On September 11,1 responded to the WTC with PO John Skala. We arrived at
the scene on West Broadway and Barclay St. Upon arriving at the scene we
exited the vehicle and witnessed several people jumping from 1 WTC. We
quickly grabbed the Scott air packs and began to walk towards the parking
garage on Barclay St. There we met up with PO Kurt Kellinger, PO Barry
Pikaard, PO Mike Simons, PO Juan Rivero, PO Jimmy Hall, PO Robert Greff and
PO Bruce Reynolds. After giving PO Reynolds some of my equipment for him to
secure in his vehicle, PO Skala began to walk back to our vehicle to secure some
of his equipment. The last time I saw PO Skala he was handing PO Greff his
equipment. We began to walk towards the parking garage when Inspector Fields
stopped us. He wanted to enter the Trade Center from the front. We began to
walk towards West St, I figured PO Skala would catch up to us, which he never
did. I last saw PO Reynolds and Simons by the parking garage entrance. We
arrived at the front of 1 WTC on West St. and grouped up at the corner of the
building next to 1 WTC. PO Pikaard, PO Kellinger, PO Rivero, PO Hall and I all
had the Scott air packs and -Inspector Fields told us he wanted us to enter 1
WTC. As we started to run towards the building we had to stop and jump back
from a body falling right towards us. Again we grouped up at the corner of the
building and now timed our run in between the falling bodies./

J Inspector Fields then asked us if we were

ready and able to "DO THIS". Someone had stated that there was a possible
third plane coming in and there were several other planes unaccounted for. We
then paired off and made our way to the emergency stairwell off of the
mezzanine level and began to ascend. As we climbed we passed Sgt Prospero
making his way down the stairs. We made it to approximately the 24th floor where
we stopped because a firefighter needed oxygen. We decided to take a quick
breather while administering the firefighter the oxygen. There were approximately
10 Firemen from Engine Co #5. As we began to pack up and continue climbing I
made it to the doorway when there was a thunderous roar and the building began
shaking. PO Kellinger and I jumped into the doorway and it was then I heard
each floor start to collapse. At this point I was waiting to die. What seemed like
an eternity was a few seconds and the building stopped shaking and a wall of
debris, soot and smoke flew across the floor. I also saw smoke and debris
coming up the stairwell indicating that we could possibly be trapped from below.
We were not sure what had occurred; I thought that a third plane hit us. It was

9/11 P e r s o n a l Privacy
 The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
HAND-WRITTEN MEMORANDUM

To: Captain Hanna

From: PO P Lucas #968
Date: 12/10/01

Subject: September 11 continued

then the firefighters began screaming to get out of the building. Several firemen
passed us as we stepped into the stairwell and as went down one floor there was
a large gentleman who stopped on the landing screaming for help as several
firefighters passed him by. PO Pikaard stopped to assist and I aided him in
carrying him down. As we continued down firefighters were yelling for us to drop
him and run.
/
....... We were also told by a
firefighter that we were trapped on this floor, knowing I wasn't able to be effective
we passed the man off to PO Hall, who later told us the man made it out. I
followed a group of firefighters from Engine Co# 5 by their flashlights down a hall
into another emergency stairwell. We came out somewhere on the concourse
which at this time was filled wall to wall with debris. I got to the front of the
building facing West St. and stood in a blown out window and on the ground was
[ Everything on the street was
crushed and covered with a foot of ash. I here was no one on the street except
for one firefighter standing on the corner where we first grouped. He waved me
on to run in between falling debris. As I ran and got to the comer of that building
& PO Kellinger soon followed. We lost the rest of the group and we began to
walk towards Vesey St. and found an elderly woman who told us she was 83
years old and walked down from the 80th floor. We helped her to an ambulance
near North End Ave. At this point we had no idea that 2 WTC totally collapsed.
We then started to walk back to the Trade Center to assist more people to get
away from the building. As we got to the corner of Vesey and West St. the
ground began to shake and as I looked up a huge cloud began to make its way
towards us. Kurt and I turned and began running for our lives. After falling several
times I was able to make to the corner of a building and jumped behind it when
everything went black. With the help of an NYPD PO I was able to get inside the
building. Kurt and I stayed there for several minutes when we made our way out
back onto the St.. PO Kellinger had a radio so we were able to find out where we
were regrouping and we made our way to Manhattan Community College.

I have read and am familiar with this report

7 ' /