INDIANAPOLIS -- An IMPD officer is being credited with saving the life of a woman whose arm was amputated in a crash on I-465 on Friday.
Police said 51-year-old Bridget Stroud was traveling southbound on I-465 near the Sam Jones Expressway around 2:20 p.m. when a flatbed tow truck in front of her slowed down because of another tow truck on the shoulder attempted to merge into traffic.
Stroud's vehicle struck the rear end of the flatbed, causing severe damage to her car and amputating her left arm, as well as trapping her in the vehicle.
IMPD Officer Javed Richards was off-duty, but immediately stopped to assist when he came upon the scene. Richards quickly applied a tourniquet to stop severe bleeding from Stroud's arm.
"The driver of the wrecker just starts coming towards me because he know sees me and tells me exactly what's going on," Richards said. "He just told me her arm was severed, so immediately turned pretty much into on-duty mode."
Wayne Township firefighters responded to the scene shortly thereafter and transported Stroud to the hospital.
The driver of the tow truck was not injured in the crash.
"I'm happy to say I prayed for her when I got home hoping she was OK, and I'm glad now that she is OK," Richards said. "So, just part of what we do."
Richards was awarded a Purple Heart by IMPD in January 2015 when he was shot in the line of duty by Donte Sowell, 27, following a traffic stop.
@ISPIndianapolis @Waynetwpfire Officer Richards is also a #PurpleHeart awardee afte he was shot in the line of duty. pic.twitter.com/kpcb9CR7K1
— IMPD (@IMPD_News) August 12, 2016
MORE | Suspect identified after shootout that injured IMPD officer
Sowell fled police and eventually opened fire on them, striking Richards in foot. Police returned fire, ultimately striking and killing Sowell. Investigators later found 15 bullets embedded in Richards' patrol car, which he used for cover during the shootout.
