Off-Duty New Jersey State Trooper Uses Tourniquet to save Man’s Life on AC Expressway

Dinesh Patel

by NJSP

As Troopers, we need to be ready if we encounter life and death situations–on or off-duty. And whether you just graduated the academy or are a 10-year veteran, we must rely on our training and experience to make split-second decisions. And that’s just what Tpr. Kenneth Minnes did when he used a tourniquet to help save a man’s life after a car crash on Monday, March 5.

At approximately 2:36 p.m., Tpr. Minnes encountered a serious motor vehicle crash on the Atlantic City Expressway in Gloucester Township while he was off-duty.

When he arrived, he discovered a car that traveled off the road and struck several trees. Prior to his arrival, a passing motorist removed the occupants from the vehicle, but Tpr. Minnes knew the victims needed to be moved away from the smoking car. With the assistance of passing motorists, Tpr. Minnes moved the victims to a safe location before the vehicle became fully engulfed.

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Although both victims sustained serious injuries, Tpr. Minnes determined that a tourniquet needed to be applied to the passenger’s heavily bleeding arm. Using a piece of a tree branch and a tee-shirt, Tpr. Minnes created a makeshift tourniquet to apply to the victim’s arm.

A short time later, advanced emergency personnel arrived and airlifted the occupants to Cooper Medical Center.

Despite just graduating the State Police Academy last year, Tpr. Minnes displayed the poise of a veteran and his decisive actions helped save the victims’ lives.

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