Oct. 16, 2012 Deputy Saves Man

PRESS RELEASE

A Parker County Sheriff’s Deputies received minor injuries while attempting to save a man’s life Friday evening.

ParkerCounty Sheriff Larry Fowler said a concerned citizen alerted officials just before 7 p.m., that an unidentified, distraught man was standing on the overpass of Interstate 20 and appeared as if he was going to jump from the bridge.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and blocked traffic near the 393 mile marker, as the subject sat on the concrete guardrail with his legs over the rail.  Deputies then distracted the 21-year-old man as Sheriff’s Corporal Kevin Lanham approached him from behind.

As Cpl. Lanham attempted to convince the man to return back onto the pavement, the subject leaned forward.

Lanham rushed to physically pull the man to safety, injuring himself as he fell toward the rail and to the pavement while holding the man. Cpl. Lanham received injuries to both knees. He received minor abrasions and swelling. He did not require hospitalization.

The man, who was not injured during the incident, was assessed by paramedics and released in the care of family members. He told authorities he did not wish to harm himself, that during the incident, he just was not thinking straight.