By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
Photo provided
An Oxford police officer was recognized last week for his quick response that helped save the life of a local man after his motorcycle collided with a truck.
Last week, OPD Officer Will Hollowell was presented with the Living-Saving Award from Interim Chief Jeff McCutchen during the Oxford Board of Aldermen’s regular meeting.
In August, Hollowell was dispatched to the scene of the wreck. As soon as he pulled up and saw the crowd that gathered around someone lying on the ground, he knew it was bad.
A man in his early 20s was on the ground with a towel over his leg. Someone on scene used a belt to try to stop the bleeding.
“I had been through [first aid] training,” he told Hottytoddy.com Wednesday. “I knew the first thing to do was stop the bleeding.”
Taking the tourniquet from his belt that all officers are supplied with by OPD, Hollowell secured it around the severely injured leg.
“The bleeding was like pouring water out of a bottle but as soon as I got the tourniquet on, it stopped,” he said.
Hollowell, who grew up in Abbeville, started cutting the man’s clothes away wherever there was blood to check for any other serious wounds.
“There were a lot of bad wounds but none bleeding as bad as the leg,” Hollowell said.
At first, the victim wasn’t speaking and appeared to be going into shock. Hollowell rolled him onto his side and made sure the man’s airway wasn’t clogged.
“Eventually, he was able to speak,” Hollowell said.
An ambulance soon arrived and Hollowell turned the wreck victim over to their care.
The wreck victim did eventually lose his leg and also suffered a brain injury. He is still at The Med in Memphis; however, Hollowell said he spoke to the man and his mother recently and he was in good spirits.
Hollowell, 25, has been a police officer for less than three years. While he said getting the recognition before the Board of Aldermen was an honor, knowing he helped save a life was the real reward.
“We’re fortunate at OPD to receive the training we get and the equipment we’re given, like the tourniquet,” he said.
Also recognized last week at the meeting were four other officers who received recent promotions. Those officers were: Kevin Parker promoted to lieutenant; Joe Bishop promoted to sergeant; Art Watts promoted to corporal and Mark Whitaker promoted to corporal.
