MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop E Headquarters - 4947 Highway 67 North - Poplar Bluff, MO 63901


News Release

For further information please contact: Sergeant Clark D. Parrott
(573) 840-9500, ext. 3532
E-34
September 16, 2016

EMPHASIS: Patrol To Award Honorary Trooper Certificates

Captain Jeffrey N. Vitale, commanding officer of Troop E, Poplar Bluff, announces two men will receive the Patrol’s Honorary Trooper Certificate. The Honorary Trooper Certificate is presented to a non-employee who performs in an exemplary manner, and under dangerous conditions, to aid another. The men were nominated due to their actions at the scene of a motor vehicle crash in Ripley County. The presentation will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 19, 2016, at Troop E Headquarters, in Poplar Bluff.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on June 4, 2016, troopers were notified of a one-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 160 at Cypress Creek. According to reports being received from other motorists, the vehicle had run off the roadway and came to rest in Cypress Creek, which was flooded due to a large amount of rainfall over the past few days. Troopers were notified that Ripley County Emergency Medical Services had been dispatched and were en route. Upon arrival, troopers observed other EMS personnel and two private citizens near the bank of the creek waiting to assist Troopers S.K. Talburt and L.B. Monahan. The two citizens were soaking wet.

Trooper Talburt was informed that two private citizens had saved Mr. Vincent’s life. Mr. Vincent was traveling east on U.S. 160 and ran off the right side of the roadway. Mr. Vincent’s vehicle had struck several small trees and overturned coming to rest on its wheels in the flooded waters. Mr. Trent E. Ray witnessed the crash and immediately pulled to the shoulder and exited his vehicle. Mr. Ray observed the truck was submerged in the water. Without any hesitation or regard for his own safety, Mr. Ray went into the water and swam to the driver’s door of the pickup. The window of the truck was down, but the doors were locked. Mr. Ray was able to hold Mr. Vincent’s head above water. A second citizen who witnessed what was happening immediately stopped to assist. Mr. James P. Willis, without hesitation or regard for his own safety, grabbed a metal bar from a vehicle, and ran into the water and swam to the truck. Mr. Willis knocked the back driver’s side window out of the truck and unlocked the doors. Mr. Willis then entered the back seat of the truck and assisted Mr. Ray with holding the victim’s head above water. Troopers Talburt and Monahan arrived on the scene a short time later. Trooper Talburt said Mr. Ray was very cold and exhausted at this point and he took over for him and allowed him to go to dry land. Mr. Willis continued to assist Troopers Talburt and Monahan in removing Mr. Vincent from the truck and getting him to awaiting EMS personnel.


Mr. Ray was contacted and he stated he saw Mr. Vincent’s vehicle run off the roadway into the water and knew he had to help. Mr. Willis also said he knew he had to help the man or he would drown in the water. Both Mr. Ray and Mr. Willis were very modest and felt they were just doing what they knew was the right thing to do. Sergeant M.D. Tackett thanked both men and said if it were not for their actions, this may have had a very different ending.

Mr. Trent E. Ray and Mr. James P. Willis without regard for their safety entered flooded Cypress Creek to save a man they did not know. The water level was around six feet deep, had a fairly strong current, and there was debris in the water. If these men had not acted the way they did and as quickly as they did, Mr. Harlon Vincent would have drowned in the cold, flooded creek.

“The actions of Mr. Ray and Mr. Willis were exemplary,” said Captain Vitale. “Both gentlemen upheld the motto of the Missouri State Highway Patrol of service and protection.”


(###)