Detention officer saves woman trapped in overturned vehicle on I-40
A local detention officer spotted an overturned vehicle along Interstate 40 while driving back to Catawba County after staying overnight at a hospital with an inmate.
The officer’s quick actions saved a trapped woman as the vehicle filled with smoke.
Catawba County Detention Officer Michael Losier.
That officer is 41-year-old Michael Losier, of Lenoir. He has been in law enforcement for about two years and works for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
“I never found out what happened to her, but I hope the small part we (Losier and other bystanders) played helped give her a chance to make it home to her family,” Losier said.
Losier said he went into law enforcement because he has always been fascinated by human behavior and thought he could use his knowledge to solve problems and help his community.
“To be honest, I didn’t grow up thinking I’d end up in law enforcement,” Losier said. “I spent 15 years working in the fiberglass industry and another six years in custom woodworking. When the opportunity came along, I decided to take a chance, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.”
On June 9, Losier was driving down Interstate 40 shortly after 6:30 a.m. Losier saw an overturned vehicle and stopped. Losier came upon the crash before first responders arrived.
“I don’t remember making a conscious decision to jump in. It just happened,” Losier said. “I saw someone who needed help, stayed as calm as I could, assessed the situation and let my training take over. It felt like instinct more than anything else, but I know that instinct came from good training.”
After stopping, Losier realized the woman was trapped inside.
“My first instinct was not to move her because you never know the extent of someone’s injuries in a serious accident,” Losier said. “But as the vehicle started filling with smoke, I felt the danger of leaving her inside was greater than the risk of moving her.”
Losier assessed the vehicle to find the easiest way to retrieve the injured woman.
“The windshield was shattered, but it was still in one piece. Since the van was on its side, I knew that was the quickest way to get to her,” Losier said. “A bystander and I were able to peel the windshield back enough that I could use my body as a ram and force it open enough to get her out. The wires to the side mirror were also blocking her exit, so they had to be ripped away. Once I was able to get her lifted up and out of the van, myself along with two others were able to brace her head and neck and lay her flat on the ground.”
Several other drivers stopped to assist Losier, he said. One man offered a shirt to use as a tool to pry the windshield open. The others helped move the woman to a safe area until emergency medical workers arrived.
“The idea to use the shirt actually came from another bystander,” Losier said. “He didn’t speak any English, but he handed me his shirt, and without saying a word, we both knew what we were trying to accomplish. It reminded me that compassion doesn’t need a common language. In that moment, two complete strangers came together with one goal: to help someone in need.”
Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the Hickory Daily Record.
