The chase ended when Mortin veered to the left of Fishburg road, struck a guardrail and went airborne across a creek west of Endicott road. The vehicle immediately burst into flames.
Cruiser camera video shows officers searching for the ejected driver, who broke his back upon impact. After Mortin was located, officers Scott Short and Larry Tyree pulled him from the truck while it burned. They were met on the bank by Officers Brian Carr and Dorian Ringer, and Sgt. Charles Taylor. The five then worked together to pull the unresponsive man to safety.
“Talking with the officers, and reading the actual report, it was obvious they put their lives in danger,” said Lt. Tony Ashley.
Based on that report, Lt. Matt Dulaney recommended that the officers receive formal honors. They were presented with awards this week.
“They take on this job knowing that they’re going to have to put their lives in danger, and when these situations occur, they just prove what they’ve taken an oath to do,” Ashley said.
Mortin was charged with operating a vehicle impaired and failure to comply with officers, a felony. Those charges will be presented to the grand jury at an undetermined date.
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