84R25416 JGH-D
By: Sheets H.R. No. 2498
R E S O L U T I O N
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 Nielson 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 Nielson 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 Nielson 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 Nielson, 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 Nielson, Officer Soto, and Mr. Shipman as an expression
of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.