Good Samaritan helps Laurel officer stop driver experiencing medical emergency

LAUREL, Del. – Police and a good Samaritan were able to intercept a driver experiencing a medical emergency Tuesday morning in Laurel.

Just after 11:30 a.m., a Laurel Police officer on patrol saw a white Mitsubishi SUV driving erratically on Sussex Highway at Discount Land Road. Police say the vehicle was traveling at approximately 30 mph on the shoulder of the roadway, swerving back and forth between the shoulder and the left travel lane, and occasionally leaving the roadway into the grass embankment.

The officer subsequently tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield for a significant distance. The original pursuing officer continued to block traffic behind the vehicle while trying to get the driver’s attention and bring him to a stop. In the Delaware Avenue area, police say an unknown good Samaritan saw what was going on and passed the pursuit in their personal vehicle. They then drove in front of the erratic driver and helped the officer slow the pursuit to a stop on the side of the roadway.

The good Samaritan moved away from the scene immediately to allow officers to contact the driver. It was quickly determined that the driver was experiencing a diabetic emergency, and the officer immediately rendered medical aid and requested EMS to the scene.

The driver, an 81-year-old Crisfield man, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Officers were able to contact the family of the driver to notify them of the incident and coordinate caretaking of the man upon his eventual release from the hospital.

Laurel Police are thanking the unknown individual for their assistance in the incident and quickly disengaging to ensure the officer had room to work.