SDHP Presents Life Saving Award 

Sioux Falls, S.D.- Two South Dakota men were recognized by the South Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) this morning for saving the life of a Sioux Falls man when they pulled him from burning wreckage moments before his vehicle became fully engulfed.

Derek Dale Murphy of White, SD, and another man who does not wish to be recognized, were in traffic along I-29 on Sunday, April 13 when they came upon a vehicle which had collided with the guard rail and caught on fire. The two men, unrelated and from different vehicles, pulled over and went to work releasing the driver from his seatbelt and pulling him from the car. The driver was unable to escape on his own. Within moments, the car had become fully engulfed in flames.

“We would likely have seen a different outcome, had these men not taken immediate action,” said SDHP Major Robert Whisler, during the award presentation. 

Trooper Blend Fetahi, one of the first responders at the scene, submitted the nomination of the two men for this SDHP award. “… it is my recommendation [these men] be referred for a life-saving award for their actions that more than likely saved the life of the driver in this vehicle crash,” he wrote. 

The rescued man, Jackson Thomas Murphy (no relation to Derek Murphy) of Sioux Falls, was on hand to thank his rescuers. “My gratitude goes beyond words,” Murphy said. “I am so thankful there are people who are willing to help others as they did. They are heroes we can all look up to.”

The drivers’ parents, Thomas and Angela Murphy attended the presentation and are grateful to those men and the other unknown people for risking their own personal safety in saving their son’s life. 

The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety thank them for their heroic actions and congratulate them on this award.

The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

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VIDEO FOR MEDIA USE: A brief video clip provided by a witness is available for download at: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q3m2k5fb6Eg    16 seconds, NAT SND

Mandatory Video Credit: Ruben Zayas

Photo Caption: (L to R) Trooper Blend Fetahi, Jackson Murphy, Derek Murphy, and Major Robert Whisler