How a DSP Trooper saved a man’s life
An act that the Delaware State Police are describing as selfless saved a man’s life early Sunday morning in Milton, Del. According to an eye-witness account, Cpl. Brian Thomson is responsible for saving 25-year-old Michael Fitzpatrick from a burning truck.
Police believe Fitzpatrick had been drinking and fell asleep at the wheel of his F-150 truck. Unconscious, Fitzpatrick drove across both the north and southbound lanes of Coastal Highway and onto the property of Brumbley’s Family Park.
Eyewitness accounts say that Fitzpatrick’s F-150 drove through a tree stump exploding it on contact, launched a boulder almost 30 feet and then crashed into an oak tree in Chris Abercrombie’s front yard, causing the truck to burst into flames.
Abercrombie, who watched the crash from his living room window tells 47 ABC he immediately called 911 and rushed to the truck. While on the phone with the operator Abercrombie says he tried to open the door, but could not due it being locked. Abercrombie says the operator told him to move away from the burning wreck and moments later Thomson arrived on scene quickly jumping into action.
Abercrombie says that after Thomson discovered the truck was locked, he used an axe to break the drivers side window. According to Abercrombie, Thomson shouted at Fitzpatrick to wake up several times before he went through the flames to the passenger side to break that window and unlock the door.
Abercrombie says it was then that Fitzpatrick woke up and tried to crawl out the drivers side door. According to him, Thomson went around to the driver’s side and used his body to shield Fitzpatrick from the flames and get him away from the burning vehicle.
Only moments after Thomson had gotten Fitzpatrick to safety Abercombrie says the truck exploded, causing debris to fly everywhere.
“I’ve never ever witnessed anything so heroic in my entire life,” Abercrombie told 47 ABC.
Fitzpatrick was treated for non-life threatening injuries and charged with driving under the influence.
