JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. - A newly-released dashcam video showed a North Carolina state trooper putting himself in the path of an oncoming wrong-way driver to avoid a bigger disaster.The State Highway Patrol said just after midnight on April 8, troopers responded to a call about a wrong-way vehicle traveling from Johnston County into Wake County.
Trooper Cody Thao arrived and traveled and exited onto the Interstate 40 eastbound ramp to Rock Quarry Road. The suspect then drove the wrong way on the exit ramp and Thao drove his patrol car right into the suspect’s path, causing a crash but preventing the suspect from getting on the interstate the wrong way.Authorities said Thao did not sustain any injuries and has been on the Wake County troop force for one year. RELATED: Airbnb host shot in chest, tenant charged with attempted murderPatrol Sgt.
Marcus Bethea said troopers don’t train for such situations. Bethea said Thao reacted in the moment and made the decision to use his vehicle, and ultimately himself, to stop the driver and prevent someone from being hurt and killed."I could not be prouder of Trp.
Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives," Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol, said in a news release. "His willingness to put himself in harms way is representative of the lifesaving work our members do each day.