A Centralia patrolman will be receiving a Life-Saving Award for his actions in saving a 21-year-old Salem woman who was preparing to jump off the McCord Street overpass on Tuesday night.
Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson says Patrolman Andrew Harvard saw a female sitting on the edge of the overpass while on patrol. He stopped his patrol car to block traffic, got out, and started talking to her. She told the patrolman she didn’t want to be here anymore. As Harvard talked, he moved closer until he was close enough to reach his arms around her to pull her off the ledge onto the roadway.
Harvard then drove the woman to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital so she could get help.
Dodson says Harvard had called for assistance when first noticing the woman, but had the situation under control before anyone else arrived.
Dodson feels Harvard likely saved the woman from jumping off the overpass which is why he will be presenting the Life Saving Award.
