NHP trooper honored for helping to save stricken athlete

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 | 8:52 a.m.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Seong Lee was riding his motorcycle, working crowd control at the Las Vegas Marathon on Feb. 2 when a frantic spectator flagged him down at Las Vegas Boulevard just north of Lake Mead Drive.

There Lee saw a runner lying face down. He radioed for an ambulance and began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. When paramedics arrived, they took over, got the man breathing and thanked Lee for his quick life-saving response.

It was all in a day's work. So much so, Lee didn't even file a report. Highway Patrol troopers only file reports when there is a criminal act or for auto accidents. They are not required to file reports when they assist the public.

But his supervisors found out about it anyway, and as a result Lee was honored this morning at the Highway Patrol's Southern Command Headquarters, 2601 E. Sahara Ave. He received a commendation for helping to save the life of the downed runner.

Also honored was Trooper Guy Davis, who was to receive the Medal of Valor for attempting to stop a teenager who is accused of carjacking, killing two people and shooting Guy in the foot in May.

Lee is a reluctant hero, giving most of the credit to the paramedics for actually reviving the runner who apparently had suffered a heart attack.

"I tried to revive the man, but got no response," Lee said. "He had a gash on his head and was not breathing. He had no pulse. It was a cold and windy day and his body was cold. I just started compression (of his chest). I guess it is true that your training kicks in and you just do what you have to do."

Troopers are required to be certified in CPR and must be recertified every two years.

Lee, 34, an 11-year veteran of the force, didn't even get the name of the man whose life he helped save.

Lt. Steve Cabrales, who recommended Lee for the citation, said he followed up with calls to the hospital, where nurses there told him the runner would have died if not for the quick response by Lee and the paramedics.

The hospital and the man's family asked the Highway Patrol not to release his name. Cabrales described the man only as a foreign athlete who survived the ordeal and has since returned to his homeland.

"We absolutely are public servants," Lee said, noting that many people view the job of state troopers as primarily doling out tickets and taking accident reports. "Many troopers go out of their way to help the public whether it is buying a stranded motorist a tank of gas or fixing a motorist's flat tire."

Lee, a 1987 graduate of Western High School and a Las Vegas resident of 24 years, said, "when I think about what happened, I say wow. Imagine a man now has a second chance at life because of something I may have done."

Davis, who now resides in Glendale, was involved in the May 10 incident that resulted in the arrest of Giles Manley, 17, who is charged with 12 felony counts, including two counts of murder.

Isaac Perez, 21, was shot to death during a carjacking, and Patrick Melia, 41, was killed in a car crash later that day that was tied to the carjacking.

When Perez rammed into Davis' patrol car to get his attention, police say, Manley shot Perez and Davis then carjacked another vehicle. Hours later, a 22-minute, high-speed chase by law enforcement officers ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into Melia's car at Vegas Drive and Decatur Boulevard, killing Melia, police said.

Today's ceremony included longevity awards and recognition for one civilian employee, Ron Williams, and nine retiring troopers: Capt. Jack Snyder, Sgt. Michael Petersen, Sgt. David Sowder, Troopers David Braucher, John Harris, Robert Torres, Rory Williams, Robert West and Ann English.