Bonneville County deputies honored for saving man trapped inside car in canal
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The following is a news release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office sent to EastIdahoNews.com on Thursday, May 19.
This morning, at the Idaho Peace Officer Memorial Service in Meridian, three Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies were awarded the State of Idaho Law Enforcement, Firefighting and EMS Medal of Honor for their lifesaving efforts at a vehicle crash last year.
On Sept. 28, 2015, just after midnight, Sgt. Jared Hurt, Dep. Korey Payne, and Dep. Chris Rix responded to a vehicle crash on E. Lincoln Rd. where a car was upside down in a canal full of water. The deputies jumped into the cold water, approximately 3.5 feet deep, and started rescue efforts for an adult male inside but were hampered by the water pressure. After utilizing several tools and a neighbor’s tractor they were able to stabilize the vehicle and eventually gain access, ultimately allowing another first responder to enter the vehicle and cut the adult out of his seatbelt. The deputies then assisted in getting the victim to the canal bank where he was treated for his injuries by arriving ambulance personnel.
The awards were presented to the deputies by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, who is the chairman of the State of Idaho Medal of Honor Commission. Also during the memorial service, Officers and Officials from around Idaho paid tribute and remembered Idaho law enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty, most recently Coeur D’ Alene Police Department Sgt. Gregory Moore who was shot and killed in May of 2015.
Sgt. Jared Hurt has been with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years, Dep. Korey Payne for four years and Deputy Chris Rix for one year. The sheriff’s office is proud of their hard work and continuing contributions to the citizens of Bonneville County.