Photo by: Josie Burkhart
The Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and sergeants who rendered life-saving aid to a man suffering a heart attack celebrate with him. From left: Trooper Thaddeus J. White, Trooper Hunter S. Mahoney, victim Charles Carter, Sergeant Rocky J. Hise and Sergeant Scott R. Moore.
Police officers protect and serve the public, but it’s not every day that they are called to save a life.
Four Ohio State Highway Patrol officers were recognized Monday for their heroic actions in saving the life of Charles Carter, a man who suffered a heart attack in early July. Sergeants Rocky J. Hise and Scott R. Moore and Patrolmen Hunter S. Mahoney and Thaddeus J. White of the patrol’s St. Clairsville base received the Distinguished Service Medallion Award from Patrol Chief Col. Charles A. Jones for their actions in saving the life of a man involved in a car accident.
The Distinguished Service Medallion Award is an award given to individuals who demonstrate a sense of urgency and provide life-saving assistance.
“Life is short. You renewed my faith in humanity – in the love people have for each other,” Carter said at the awards ceremony at the Cambridge patrol station. “You never questioned how you did your job, you just did it. … You changed my life forever.”
On July 3, White and Mahoney were on their way to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 East in Kirkwood Township, Belmont County, near the Barnesville exit. While at the scene, Carter, who was traveling from his home in Dayton, Ohio, to visit his family in Washington, D.C., collapsed and was unresponsive. After calling an ambulance and requesting another patrol unit, White initiated CPR. Moore arrived to assist while White performed CPR on the victim.
A faint pulse was detected twice, but was lost both times. They continued working until Hise arrived on the scene with an AED, and White and Mahoney quickly applied the device to the victim. Paramedics arrived on the scene and took Carter to their squad on a stretcher.
Because Carter was in such critical condition, all three paramedics were needed in the rear of the squad. This prompted White to take on the responsibility of driving the ambulance as the paramedics were left without a driver. Mahoney followed in his patrol car on the way to the hospital.
White said driving the ambulance was nothing like driving a patrol car, and although he had never done it before, he was pleased with the outcome.
The day of the incident seemed surreal to Mahoney. He said that although he had practiced CPR and taken lifeguard classes many times as a child, he never imagined he would have to use the skills.
“All I can say is God answered my prayers,” he said. “All the glory to him. (Carter) is up and walking, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Three of those officers are alumni of local school districts – Moore graduated from Union Local High School in 1991, White from Union Local in 2000 and Hise from Monroe Central in 2000. Mahoney graduated from Fort Frye High School in Beverly, not far from Marietta. Moore grew up in Bethesda, while White grew up in Flushing and Hise grew up in Woodsfield.
Moore described the incident as tough and scary and said it took a lot of effort from everyone. He said that since he has been doing this job for 24 years, it was something to be prepared for.
“I’m glad the family was able to see him and everything worked out,” Moore noted.
Hise said he mentally prepares for such incidents every day when he goes to work.
“Seeing Carter here in this room means the world to me,” Hise said. “…Something like this brings some closure and realization about the event itself.”
