Missouri State Highway Patrol Awarded Certificates

The Missouri State Highway Patrol awarded four men Honorary Trooper certificates in a ceremony at the Troop A sergeants’ meeting on September 11, 2014. The men were honored for their actions at the scene of a traffic crash in Jackson County.

Michael Clevenger, Casey Conrad, Dylin Liles, and Thomas Bukaty provided assistance to Christopher Bowers, who had been involved in a traffic crash on Interstate 470 at View High Drive, on May 20, 2014. Mr. Bowers was driving eastbound on I-470 when he suffered a medical emergency causing the vehicle to travel off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle came to rest against a metal wire fence. Heavy smoke began to fill the passenger area of the vehicle. Before emergency personnel arrived on scene, Mr. Clevenger, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Liles, and Mr. Bukaty stopped and approached the vehicle. Small flames were showing underneath the vehicle. The citizens noticed the driver was still inside the vehicle and was unconscious. They carefully and quickly removed Mr. Bowers from the vehicle and carried him away from the immediate area. When Trooper David M. Smith arrived on scene, he noticed the citizens were providing first aid to the driver. They stated the driver was breathing and had a pulse. Trooper Smith evaluated the driver and verified he was breathing, had a steady pulse, but was still unconscious. By this time, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Moments later, the Lee’s Summit Fire Department arrived on the scene. They took over patient care and extinguished the fire. Mr. Bowers has since recovered from the traffic crash.

Captain Eric T. Olson, commanding officer of Troop A, Lee’s Summit, stated, “It is clear the citizens involved in this incident performed in an exemplary manner and under dangerous conditions to render aid to another. The actions of these men kept Mr. Bowers’ injuries from becoming worse. The Honorary Trooper certificates are to recognize these men for their courage and willingness to help another citizen with disregard for their own safety.”

In support of “The Drive To Zero Highway Deaths,” the Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life And Wear It!!

Missouri State Highway Patrol Awarded Certificates