EDINBURG — The Edinburg Police Department recognized one of their officers Wednesday whose swift action saved the life of a man involved in an auto wreck last December.
Joaquin Garcia, who’s worked at the department for about four years, was recognized with a life saving award presented by police Chief Jaime Ayala for saving the life of 64-year-old Jaime Cavazos, who lost his right foot after being struck by a truck the night of Dec. 17.
“Every day, our men and women go out and they respond to calls, they deal with all different sorts of incidents, but to be able to act quickly as they’re trained,” Ayala said. “We want to recognize Officer Garcia today for his actions on that day that saved Mr. Cavazos’ life.”
It was a little after 5 p.m. when officers received a call of a major accident at the intersection of Mile 17 ½ and McColl Road.
Garcia said he was only a few blocks away while enroute to another call when he heard the news of the accident over the radio, so he decided to re-route.
“I did see Mr. Cavazos on the floor underneath the motorcycle on the side of a truck,” Garcia said. “I immediately saw that he had a severe laceration to his lower right leg.”
Cavazos said he had been making a turn when he got hit by a truck and was dragged a bit afterward.
Garcia praised the training and equipment provided by the police department which allowed him to apply a tourniquet on Cavazos’ leg until the ambulance arrived. He was then taken to DHR Health in Edinburg.
It was at the hospital that an ER doctor asked who had applied the tourniquet and was told it was Garcia.
“The doctor said if that tourniquet was not applied that Mr. Cavazos would not have survived his injuries,” Ayala said.
Cavazos was all smiles and shook hands with Garcia at Wednesday’s ceremony before thanking him for his quick actions that saved his life.
The Edinburg resident advised others to always wear their helmets as he did when riding and to pay attention to the road to avoid accidents such as the one he was involved in.
“Who knows what would’ve happened to me if the truck had hit my head,” Cavazos said. “Always be vigilant, be visible, danger’s always lurking.”
Garcia will soon be leaving the Edinburg Police Department to pursue a new career with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a highway patrolman.
