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Split Second Decisions: How Would You React?

EL PASO, Texas – El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department Senior Officer Jimmy Olivas and his 14-year-old daughter were recently faced with a situation that called for quick thinking. On June 30, they were on I-10 East following behind an SUV that appeared to be exiting the freeway, but then the driver changed her mind at the last minute.

The SUV hit the exit barriers, which caused the vehicle to flip over and as a result, two small children were ejected. Before he could bring his own car to a complete stop, Olivas’ daughter was out of the car, running across morning traffic to gather up one of the children from the freeway. This little girl, who was not more than four or five years old, was severely injured and would not have been able to move on her own.

The second child, who had been thrown to the middle of the freeway, stood up dazed and confused, directly in the path of a semi-truck. Miraculously, at the last second, the child took a small step to the side and avoided being hit by the truck. Olivas’ daughter was able to then also grab this child and carry him to safety.

An off-duty paramedic happened upon the scene and rushed in to help. Olivas and the paramedic pulled a 9-month-old baby and 10-year-old girl from the crushed SUV. As Olivas checked the baby for injuries, he also tried to calm both the baby and mother as emergency personnel worked on the other children.

If Officer Olivas and his daughter had not been there, this accident could have had dire consequences and this family would have suffered tremendous loss. After all this, being the ever dedicated employee, Olivas dropped his daughter off at home and reported to work.

PHOTO: El Paso JDP Senior Officer Jimmy Olivas and his daughter
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