South Dakota Trooper`s Life-saving Actions Recognized With Award
Dec. 18--Saving two people from drowning while risking his own life earned Trooper James Tedder of the South Dakota Highway Patrol a prestigious award.
His actions were rewarded Friday with a surprise presentation of a South Dakota Highway Patrol Life Saving Award, an honor officials say is rare.
"This is something that we don't have a lot of opportunities to do because of the fact that things that we're going to be recognizing today don't happen that often," said Highway Patrol Col. Craig Price, who presented Tedder with the award.
On the night of Oct. 15, Tedder was called to assist the Webster Police Department in a vehicle pursuit.
The chase led down a road closed due to flooding several miles north of Roslyn, ending in the man being chased driving his vehicle into cold water.
"I didn't know to what extent they'd actually go to get away," said Tedder, a former Marine and Georgia native.
The male driver and his female passenger were able to exit their vehicle, then attempted to evade officers by swimming an estimated 50 yards out from shore.
Price said the two suspects floated for 15 to 20 minutes before the female started swimming to shore to give herself up. At that point, though, cold and fatigue rendered both suspects unable to swim to safety.
"Trooper Tedder recognized that he needed to take immediate action because he didn't want either of the suspects to drown," Price said.
Running off adrenaline and instinct, Tedder jumped in the frigid water to save the duo.
"In this situation, I noticed that the fatigue was definitely setting in with the male, and that's when I went in," Tedder said. "And then I noticed it was setting in for her, so I grabbed them both at the same time. I was just doing what I had to do to save someone's life. They were yelling for help -- you've got to do something."
Once safely ashore, both suspects were taken by ambulance to Sanford Hospital in Webster and were treated for hypothermia, officials said Friday.
Tedder then returned home to his wife, Courtney, and their two daughters, Hanna, 3, and Elyssa, 4.
"He was sopping wet, smelled very bad," said Courtney Tedder, who had mixed emotions about the ordeal. "I was mad and happy all at the same time."
She said she knew what had happened and how her husband risked his life to save others.
"He could've been pulled under. But he said he couldn't watch them drown," Courtney Tedder said.
But she understands why her husband took the risk, as do the Highway Patrol, Day County Sheriff's Office and Webster Police department. They nominated James Tedder for his efforts.
The honoree was humble in accepting his award, but other noted his bravery.
"He likely saved one, possibly two lives that day," Price said. "His direct and brave actions led to the safe recovery of the subjects and prevented a tragic event from happening."
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Copyright 2015 - American News, Aberdeen, S.D.
