On June 21, 2022, Patrol Deputy Eric J. Swanson was on patrol searching for a DUI driver when a semi-truck ran a stop sign and collided with his patrol vehicle. His patrol car erupted into flames and Deputy Swanson was severely injured. He was able to exit the vehicle under his own power and he immediately applied a tourniquet to his left arm that had been partially degloved. He suffered a broken neck, severe shoulder damage, lost part of his left ear and had 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his face and arms.
His Safariland SM02 level IIIA armor, was severely damaged by both the crash and fire, but protected his torso from the crash and flames. Upon inspection of his armor after it was cut off, his Safariland PROTECH X-Cal LP plate had stopped a large piece of shrapnel from the crash that would have entered the center of his chest. Deputy Swanson had just loaded the plate into his carrier approximately 1 hour prior to the crash as he began working traffic
We welcome Deputy Eric J Swanson, SAVE #2150, to The Safariland Group SAVES Club
