On November 19, 2016, I was making a lunch run to meet a friend of mine for some tacos. It was just like any other day except that I was pretty excited about these tacos!
As I pulled out of the parking lot from work, I started up an overpass in the left-hand lane and noticed a police cruiser with flashing lights in the right lane stopped. I pulled up beside the cruiser and saw the officer standing in front of his car talking to a man who was sitting on the rail at the top of the overpass above a very busy I-30.
I stopped in the left lane to prevent traffic coming through since it was obvious the officer was trying to talk to the man who was contemplating a jump. In a bit of disbelief, I glanced back and forth at the man and the officer as their conversation continued. And then it happened…
During a look back at the officer, I saw him immediately take off in a dead sprint towards the man who upon further review was no longer sitting on the overpass. All I could see where two hands holding on as he dangled above the busy interstate.
Without hesitation, I took off running from my vehicle towards the incident and grabbed the man’s right arm as the officer took hold of his left arm. It seemed like an eternity as we pulled and pulled while the man pleaded for help in terror. I won’t ever forget the fear in his eyes as the cars rushed by 20-30 feet below him.
On December 14, 2016, I was honored by the White Settlement Police Department with the Police Life Saving Award for “extraordinary effort in assisting and helping an Officer save a victim’s life.” I haven’t heard how the man is doing, and I will likely never cross paths with him again. I am just proud to know that I was able to react without hesitation in that situation, and that gentleman is able to hopefully get things turned around.
