Holly MatkinGate City, VA – Dashcam footage captured the moment when a quick-thinking Gate City police officer likely saved his partner’s life by pulling her out of the path of a reckless driver (video below).
The near-deadly incident occurred on U.S. Highway 23 at approximately 5 p.m. Oct. 3 as Gate City Police Department (GCPD) Officer Matthew Stewart and Officer Jessica McGraw were investigating a crash scene, GCPD Chief Justin Miller said in a press release on Wednesday.
Both officers were standing on the side of the highway near the passenger side of Officer McGraw’s parked patrol SUV when the driver of an oncoming white car lost control, blasted through the median, and slammed into the police vehicle, according to police
Officer Stewart, who was facing the roadway, saw the oncoming collision and grabbed onto Officer McGraw, yanking her away from the patrol SUV at the last possible moment, dashcam footage showed.
The force of the crash sent the police vehicle spinning into the exact spot where the two officers had just been standing.
The officers immediately checked the occupants of the white car and called for emergency medical personnel to respond to the scene, Chief Miller said.
Although the SUV made contact with Officer Stewart’s leg, both officers managed to escape the incident without serious injuries.
“The only minor injury reported was from Officer Stewart who stated his leg ‘went numb like I had a bad charley horse,’” Chief Miller said. “Upon review of the dash camera footage it appears the brush guard of Officer McGraw’s patrol vehicle brushed against Officer Stewart’s leg as he pushed McGraw out of the way.”
“It is my belief the quick actions of Officer Stewart not only saved himself from serious bodily injury or death but also that of Officer McGraw,” Chief Miller added.
The driver of the white car was cited for failing to maintain control of their vehicle.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
