Sergeant awarded Medal of Valor following life-saving rescue

OBION, Tenn. — A local sergeant is deemed a hero after rescuing a man from a burning vehicle.

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Sergeant Danny Evans with the Obion County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a call when he encountered a vehicle fire.

Evans questioned a nearby homeowner about the incident and if the vehicle was occupied to which he was unsure.

“And then, you know, that’s the moment of realization that hit me, and I was like, ‘there could be someone in this vehicle,’ so I, you know, adrenaline kicked in and I just reacted, and I ran to the truck door and sure enough, there was a gentleman inside,” Sergeant Evans said.

The windshield had collapsed inside the vehicle and Sergeant Evans quickly jumped into action.

“I had to lift the windshield and kind of pull him underneath the windshield to get him out of the truck, and then once I got him outside, I could drag him away, and one of my other deputies, Deputy Sadler, got there. And after I drug him out a little bit, he helped me carry him away from the fire,” said Evans.

The driver was involved in a motor vehicle accident where he sustained facial fractures and possible internal injuries. He was airlifted to Memphis for treatment.

“I didn’t really have time to process it there, and then after the scene of course, I looked back and was thinking just how lucky, you know, time and place to be able to save that guy, I mean… If I was anywhere else in the county, you know, we wouldn’t have been able to save him and I know any other deputy or police officer would have done the same thing in my situation,” Evans said.

Sergeant Evans was awarded the Medal of Valor and a Letter of Commendation for his heroic actions.

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