Wayne Hummer, 58, credits Donald Jessamine with saving him decades ago from drowning in a pool.
Wayne Hummer says Donald Jessamine saved his life nearly 50 years ago.
That is why he plans to sit in the courtroom every day of Jessamine's ongoing trial over a deadly 2012 boat crash.
"I have to support the man," the 58-year-old Hummer said Wednesday. "He's a hero in my eyes."
Wayne Hummer, 58, of Phillipsburg, plans to attend every day of Donald Jessamine's trial on charges aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Hummer says Jessamine rescued him from drowning in a pool nearly 50 years ago. (Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com)Jessamine, 65, of Phillipsburg, is accused of drunkenly driving a jet boat into a rock June 23, 2012, on the Delaware River, killing Harmony Township resident Lane Alden. He faces 30 years in prison if convicted on charges of aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Hummer, also of Phillipsburg, is one of several people observing the trial. He said he owes his life to Jessamine after nearly drowning when he was 9 years old.
Humer was a Little League baseball player on a team coached by Jessamine's uncle and said that he, his teammates and some parents were celebrating a championship at Jessamine's parents' house in town.
Hummer said he slipped into the deep end of the pool, choked on water as he tried to call for help and sank to the bottom. "Everybody was just standing there," he said.
Jessamine, then a teenager, ran out of the house fully dressed, drove into the pool, pulled out the unconscious boy and helped to revive him, Hummer said.
"I was dead, but he brung me back," he said.
Opening statements: 'A tale of 2 people'
Hummer said he has not spoken to Jessamine since and was unaware of the trial until his wife, Becky, was called in as a potential juror. She was not selected.
As the trial continues, the state is building its case that Jessamine acted recklessly in the deadly crash. In Wednesday's testimony, two New Jersey State Troopers said their investigation determined Jessamine was intoxicated.
Hummer said he doesn't believe the allegations.
"He's too good of a man for this to happen to him," Hummer said. "An accident's an accident."
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.