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Indianapolis – Yesterday afternoon Pendleton Trooper Doug Snyder was honored by the Indiana State Police at an awards ceremony that took place at the Indiana Government Center. Snyder was honored with the Lifesaving Award for his actions at a crash scene on 4/15/13 in Henry County.

Trooper Snyder was driving through Henry County around 4 p.m. that afternoon when he heard Henry County Dispatch put out a crash in the 5800 block of SR 38 in eastern Henry County. Snyder wasn’t far away and responded to find a small box truck off the north side of SR 38 in a field.

There were two motorists at the scene that had stopped to assist. Snyder could see that the driver of the truck, 68 year old John D. Hale of Muncie, was not breathing and had no pulse. John Hale’s wife, who was in the truck with him, said her husband had suddenly lost consciousness before driving off the road. With the help of the Good Samaritans Snyder lifted the driver out of the truck and placed him on the ground.

Snyder, relying on his training, immediately began CPR. As Henry County EMS arrived one of the Good Samaritans took over compressions so Snyder could assist the EMS crew. John Hale survived the incident due to the quick thinking and actions of Trooper Snyder, and later got to thank Snyder when visited his room at IU Health's Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

Snyder, a seven year member of the Indiana State Police, was “commended for outstanding police performance in the saving of a human life, and the display of exceptional initiative, capability and attention to duty, thereby earning respect and admiration for himself and the Indiana State Police”.