The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office will present an award to Sgt. Tracy Gay on Wednesday for his actions to assist two people in a serious traffic collision in Elma that left one victim pinned between two vehicles. The Sheriff’s Office Meritorious Service Medal will be presented to Gay at 3 p.m. in the large commissioner’s meeting room.

Gay was off duty when he witnessed the traffic collision, where an elderly male struck a parked car with his vehicle, pinning a victim between the two vehicles, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release. The victim sustained a compound fracture on his leg, and was bleeding profusely. His other leg was broken as well.

Gay removed the elderly driver from his vehicle, and freed the victim pinned between cars. Heapplied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg with a belt, and then enlisted the help of a citizen, Babette Brinkley, and two Elma Public works employees Rick Green and Larry Holcomb to help administer first aid.

Elma Police Officer Josh Goffena arrived placed an actual tourniquet on the victim’s leg. The victim is a registered nurse and felt that due to his traumatic injury and the blood loss he was experiencing, the incident could have been fatal without the help he received at the scene.

Because the criteria for the Sheriff’s Office life saving award requires the employee to be on duty, Gay was awarded with the Meritorious Service Medal. Elma Police Chief Susan Shultz will be recognizing Goffena, Brinkley, Green and Holcomb for their actions as well.

Originally, doctors feared the victims leg may have to be amputated, but they were able to repair the injury and he is recovering. The victim will also be present for the awards ceremony to show his appreciation. The ceremony is open to the public.