A North Carolina state trooper is being hailed as a hero after risking his life to stop an intoxicated driver, according to reports.
On April 8, police were in pursuit of a driver accused of drunk driving. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that Trooper Cody Thao joined in to stop the DUI suspect from hurting any driving civilians.
The suspect, 26- year-old Joshua Ray Bibey, was speeding up an exit ramp in the wrong traffic direction. Thao then bravely steered his police vehicle towards Bibey’s pickup truck, violently crashing into each other.
Police dashcam video showed that the trooper’s cruiser spun off the road after colliding with the vehicle. Thao’s actions saved lives as he blocked the interstate exit where other cars could have been leaving.
We're taking you through this wild video put out today by @NCSHP tonight with the trooper whose action saved lives.
Cody Thao: "All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County" #abc11 #ncshp pic.twitter.com/PRwF9TwauE— Josh Chapin (@JoshChapinABC11) May 5, 2022
“I could not be prouder of Trp. Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong-way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives,” said Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. 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,” he added.
Thao, who has only been with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for less than a year, told reporters that his selfless actions were a part of the reason why he signed up for the job.
“Once I saw the vehicle, I just decided to stop the chase right there. This is what we signed up to do, this is what we agreed to do,” the trooper said. “All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County.”
“Before that, I actually worked at a Tractor Supply,” he added. “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.”
Bibey was arrested and charged with driving while impaired.
Similarly, a Florida state trooper last March put herself in harm’s way by purposely navigating her police cruiser into an oncoming driver who was also reportedly intoxicated.
