Life Saving Award 2014

Ronald Rayburn and Walter Tucker

MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY SAFETY PATROL RETIRED

TROOPERS ASSOCIATION

&,

MISSISSIPPI STATE TROOPERS ASSOCIATION

LIFE SAVING AWARD

Presented to

RONALD RAYBURN

On October 13, 2014 at approximately 1500 hours Retired Trooper Ronnie Rayburn was working his shift with the Camp Shelby Police Department.  Ronnie was sitting in his patrol vehicle in the parking lot at the corner store located at South Gate Road and US 49.  Meanwhile, MHP MSgt. Jonathan Johnson (J3) was traveling north on US 49 in his patrol car in route to the Troop J Substation. As MSgt. Johnson passed the store, a pickup truck pulled into his lane and the two vehicles collided. The collision caused MSgt. Johnson’s patrol car to Ieave the roadway to the right.  His patrol car entered the tree line and struck a tree.  MSgt. Johnson’s patrol car overturned and caught on fire. MSgt. Johnson had his seatbelt on and was unable to exit the vehicle without assistance.

Ronnie Rayburn heard the collision and immediately responded to the scene of the accident.   He found the driver of the second vehicle lying in the roadway and realized that the driver was deceased. Rayburn then proceeded down the hill to Sgt. Johnson’s vehicle which was burning.  Flames were beginning to engulf the patrol car. Rayburn released Johnson from the seat belt and removed him from the burning vehicle. He assisted Johnson up the hill until Johnson collapsed and then carried him the rest of the way to the roadway.  Ronnie then placed him on the tailgate of a truck until EMS arrived. Rayburn obtained a blanket from a bystander and covered the body of the fatality which was in the northbound lane of US 49. The patrol car was completely destroyed by the fire and there is no doubt Johnson would not have survived without having assistance in being removed from the car.

Although Rayburn was retired, he exemplified great MHP spirit in saving the life of an active Trooper. Retired trooper Ronald Rayburn’s actions that day bring great honor upon him and the organization for which he served for twenty five years as a Mississippi State Trooper.