TITLE: Commending Officers Ryan Nielson and Autumn Soto of the Mesquite Police Department and private citizen Zachary Shipman for rescuing a driver from a burning car.

SUMMARY: Commending Officers Ryan Nielson and Autumn Soto of the Mesquite Police Department and private citizen Zachary Shipman for rescuing a driver from a burning car.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, In a heroic effort in the early morning hours, two officers of the Mesquite Police Department, assisted by a private citizen, rescued a man from a burning car; and WHEREAS, Shortly after 4 a.m. on April 19, 2015, Zachary Shipman, a Mesquite native who is now a member of the U.S. Navy, was traveling on Interstate Highway 30 after leaving his parents' home with his wife to travel to his new posting in Virginia; in the predawn darkness, the couple came upon a traffic accident that had taken place just moments before; a car that had collided with a steel pillar was on fire, and the driver was trapped inside; and WHEREAS, Mr. Shipman immediately dialed 911, and Officer Ryan Nielsen and Officer Autumn Soto quickly responded to the call; when they arrived at the scene, the front of the car was engulfed in flames, and the clothes of the unconscious driver were already on fire; and WHEREAS, With only moments to spare, and with little thought for their own safety, Officers Nielsen and Soto worked quickly to free the trapped man, and with the help of Mr. Shipman, they pulled the driver from the car and carried him to safety; and WHEREAS, After an ambulance arrived, the victim of the crash was transported to a local hospital, where he was categorized in critical condition, with burns and internal injuries; and WHEREAS, In recognition of his participation in the rescue, Mr. Shipman was presented with a Citizen Certificate of Merit by the Mesquite Police Department; and WHEREAS, Thanks to the swift, skillful, and fearless action of Officers Nielsen and Soto, as well as the compassion and bravery demonstrated by Mr. Shipman, an individual was saved from a desperate situation, and these three heroes may indeed take great pride in their actions on that fateful morning; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commend Officer Ryan Nielsen, Officer Autumn Soto, and Mr. Zachary Shipman for their dramatic rescue of a traffic crash victim and extend to them sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared for Officer Nielsen, Officer Soto, and Mr. Shipman as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Sheets Burkett Johnson Straus Gonz lez Otto Allen Guerra Paddie Alonzo Guillen Parker Alvarado Gutierrez Paul Anchia Harless Pe a Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phelan Anderson of McLennan Herrero Phillips Ashby Howard Pickett Aycock Huberty Price Bell Hughes Raney Bernal Hunter Raymond Blanco Isaac Reynolds Bohac Israel Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Rose Button King of Parker Sanford Canales King of Taylor Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schofield Clardy Klick Schubert Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Cyrier Laubenberg Smith Dale Leach Smithee Darby Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel M rquez Stickland Dukes Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Collin Fallon Meyer Turner of Harris Farias Miles Turner of Tarrant Farney Miller of Comal VanDeaver Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Villalba Fletcher Minjarez Vo Flynn Moody Walle Frank Morrison White of Bell Frullo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Murphy Workman Geren Murr Wray Giddings Naishtat Wu Goldman Nev rez Zedler Gonzales Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2498 was adopted by the House on May 18, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House