A North Carolina trooper is being praised for saving lives after he put his own life on the line to stop a suspected drunk driver from entering an interstate going the wrong way.
According to North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Trooper Cody Thao used his own patrol vehicle to stop the suspected drunk driver who was speeding up an exit ramp the wrong way. Thao’s heroic act was caught on dashcam video.
Authorities said Thao was called in to assist with a chase in the early morning hours of April 8. When Thao arrived, the chase arrived onto the I-40 eastbound ramp to Rock Quarry Road in Wake County. The suspect started driving the wrong way on the ramp.
In the video, Trooper Thao can be seen intentionally driving his patrol car into the path of the suspected drunk driver to stop him from entering the interstate and going the wrong way. Amazingly, Trooper Thao suffered no injuries.
“I could not be prouder of Trp. Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives,” Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, said in a statement. “His willingness to put himself in harm’s way is representative of the lifesaving work our members do each day. Placing others before ourselves is not just a saying amongst the law enforcement profession, it’s a reality of what we do for the betterment of the communities we serve.”
In an interview with Fox 12, Trooper Thao said he didn’t even think about how he could be severely injured until afterward.
“Once I saw the vehicle, I just decided to stop the chase right there,” Thao said. “This is what we signed up to do, this is what we agreed to do.”
He added, “All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County.”
Thao has been with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for less than a year.
“Before that, I actually worked at a Tractor Supply,” he said. “I don’t have any prior experience with law enforcement. I’ve always had a servant’s heart, and I’ve always wanted to help people.”
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Joshua Ray Bibey, was apprehended and charged with driving while impaired.
