A police officer and an off-duty jailor are being hailed as heroes after their quick thinking and rapid action helped a pedestrian who was struck by a freight train last week.
Officer Ruthie McCoy and jailor Kortnee Hill were honored with the Life Saving Award during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Monday. Police Chief Jay Winstead said the actions from McCoy and Hill led to stabilizing the injured victim long enough to be taken to a hospital.
Winstead said a northbound Canadian National freight train struck a pedestrian on Aug. 3 near the Amtrak station on Broadway. The impact caused extensive injuries to the victim.
“Officer McCoy arrived on the scene and was blocked by the stopped train,” Winstead said. “She climbed the train to reach the victim and, once reaching him, began administering first aid. She applied pressure to stop the profuse bleeding and gave the victim comforting words while awaiting the arrival of paramedics.”
Winstead said Hill was off work when she discovered the wreck site. The off-duty jailor quickly stopped to help, literally giving the shirt off her back to help the victim.
“Hill removed her shirt and also applied pressure to the victim to stop the profuse bleeding of another injured area,” Winstead said.
Both McCoy and Hill were presented with the department’s Life Saving Award for their heroic actions. The condition of the victim remains unknown, but he was comforted and assisted by the two first responders until medical personnel arrived at the scene.
“McCoy and Hill displayed compassion, courage and diligence that far exceeds the normal display of a city employee,” Winstead said.
