Deputy Karl was standing along the roadside talking to a citizen when a pickup truck crossed two lanes of traffic coming from the opposite direction, and struck both men. The citizen was killed instantly and Karl was seriously injured. The doctors treating Karl informed Chief Deputy O’Farrell that “the Second Chance® vest worn by Karl was directly responsible for saving his life.” The vest elasticity maintained the integrity of the officer’s vascular pressure. As soon as the straps were cut in the ER his blood pressure took a dramatic drop. The vest also prevented the shattering of ribs which would have produced secondary injury as a result of bone splinters being driven into the heart or lungs.
We welcome Deputy Thomas Karl, SAVE #286, to The Safariland Group SAVES CLUB®.
