Moreau Good Samaritans & Officers Save Life of Motorcycle Accident Victim

There are heroes walking among us in the Capital Region and they were recently recognized by the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. A couple from Moreau and two of our finest were honored for their quick thinking that saved a life.

Passers-by Stopped to Help

There was a horrific motorcycle crash in the town of Wilton last Friday (July 29th). Passing by the accident were Christopher and Jill Rafferty of Moreau. They saw the motorcyclist in distress so they stopped to help. Quickly thinking, Christopher grabbed a bandanna and used it as a tourniquet on the motorcyclist's leg to try and stop the bleeding. Then both he and Jill stayed with the man until EMS arrived giving him comfort and encouragement.

There Were Two More Heroes That Helped

Arriving at the accident scene, Sherriff's Sergeant Ryan Mahan also made a tourniquet. New York State Trooper joined the Sherriff's Sergeant and applied for a second tourniquet hoping the extra one would stop the bleeding.

Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo presented the officers with the Office's Life-Saving award. The Rafferty's received the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office's Samaritan award for the act of humanity in helping someone in need during an accident according to the Times Union.

(Son Evan Rafferty accepted the award on his mom, Jill's behalf.)

Sheriff Zurlo said this about the Raffertys and the officers,

It is truly what we do when nobody is looking that defines what a hero is. The selflessness and compassion shown towards a fellow human being on the part of the Raffertys were perhaps one of the most commendable acts I’ve seen in my career. Mahan and Salaway both showed what a police officer is. When the chips were down, they acted and a person is alive today because of them.