Police Officer Pulls Woman Over, Doesn’t Give Her A Ticket, But Saves Her Life [Video]
A Texas police officer pulled over a woman for a traffic violation, but was surprised to find the driver in distress and instead of handing her a ticket, saved her life.
When the cop stopped the woman for what is said to be a minor violation, he could have never imagined he would end up saving her life. Quick-thinking Austin Police Department Officer Dustin Clinkscales recognized almost immediately that all was not right when he approached the driver earlier this month.
What was meant to be a routine traffic stop for supposedly using a cell phone while driving, turned out to be a life-threatening emergency on July 5. Officer Clinkscales was working a safety initiative along a local road that morning when he noticed a female driver trying to use a cell phone, according to KVUE.
As with any other such instance, he put on his sirens and started to pursue the vehicle. However, when he arrived by the car, he noticed the woman was holding her throat with her hands, unable to breathe.
The police car dash-cam recorded the moment the Officer arrives at the vehicle after pulling the woman over. The anonymous driver couldn’t talk, and Clinkscales slapped her back hard in an effort to dislodge the object, but that didn’t work.
Next, he pulled her out of the driver seat and started the Heimlich maneuver. The video footage shows the Austin Police Officer attempting the life-saving maneuver three times, until a biscuit finally was dislodged.
The woman is heard gasping for air, but fainted due to lack of oxygen. The Officer caught her and laid her gently on the ground while he called for help. The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she recovered.
She is the daughter of an Austin Police Department detective and is very thankful for Officer Clinkscales’ actions.
“She’s very thankful. She says she was lucky he was there,” said Detective Duncan Dunn.
The Austin Police Officer who pulled the woman over has been commended for his actions and his quick-thinking, which prevented a tragedy for one of their own.
Austin Travis County EMS Captain Holly Craghead wrote a commendation letter, saying, “Had it not been for the quick and exact actions of Officer Clickscales, the patient would have most certainly had a negative outcome.”
The Heimlich Maneuver is a first aid procedure used to treat upper airway obstructions by foreign objects. The procedure is named after Dr. Henry Heimlich, who first described it in 1974.
[Image via Austin Police Department]
