South Salt Lake Officer Nearly Killed By Debris Talks After Close Call
Jul 15, 2019, 5:58 PM | Updated: 8:53 pm
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – A South Salt Lake motorcycle officer nearly killed by flying debris from an out of control truck said he’s lucky to be alive thanks to a car that pulled up next to him to block the debris.
“(It was) kind of a crazy incident. (I’m) a little shaken up but feeling alright,” said Officer Jorgensen in an exclusive interview with KSL’s Dan Rascon. “It kind of looked like a grenade went off.”
It was just before 7 a.m. on Monday when Officer Jorgensen was conducting radar control along State Street at about 3000 South. He was on the west side or the road, sitting in the parking lot of the Harley Davidson dealership and watching southbound traffic when he noticed an out of control truck coming right at him.
EXCLUSIVE: @southsaltlake motorcycle Officer nearly killed by flying debris talks about what happened. "It kind of looked like a grenade went off" and hear from the woman who is being credited for saving his life "If I wasn't there he would be dead" only on @KSL5TV 5&6 pic.twitter.com/zb3XeFc5xs
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) July 15, 2019
The truck hit a lighting pole and a fire hydrant, which went flying towards Jorgensen.
MORE: Man Driving Stolen Truck Crashes, Injured Motorcycle Officer
“I started to see the truck leaving the roadway and that’s when I dodged off the side of my bike,” said Jorgensen.
Jorgensen was hit by the lighting pole when it came crashing down.
It could have easily been deadly if a white car driven by 73-year-old Kathalyn McCormick didn’t pull up next to him to talk to him only minutes before.
That car took the brunt of the flying debris with the fire hydrant and pole crashing into the side of it, shattering the side and back windows.
“(I) definitely was grateful for it. (The car) probably saved my life today – caught the fire hydrant too. I’m grateful for it,” said Jorgensen.
Exclusive: Right Place at the Right Time- this woman who got cut up from flying glass helped save an officers life.. her story only on @KSL5TV at 6 pic.twitter.com/c0fSvfXduM
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) July 15, 2019
McCormick suffered cuts to her face from her car’s glass as it shattered. Rascon also spoke exclusively to McCormick, who says God was in the details.
“We were both very, very lucky God was looking out after us,” said McCormick. “(Officer Jorgensen is) a wonderful guy. I’m glad he’s still alive. I’m glad I’m still alive. Anything can happen to anybody at any given second.”
Before it came to a stop, the truck took out another lighting pole and shot across into the northbound lands and crashed into the side of a building. It took out a gas line.
Investigators said the truck was stolen and the man was driving impaired. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
“God does funny things with me. He puts me at the right places at the right times,” said McCormick.
