On October 9, 2025, the Texas Department of Public Safety recognized several personnel during the October meeting of the Public Safety Commission at DPS Headquarters in Austin. PSC Chairman Steven P. Mach, Nelda Luce Blair, Dan Hord, Larry Long, Steven Stodghill, and DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin presented two Director’s Citations and four Lifesaving Awards.
Among the honorees, Troopers Jeremy Ellis of Carrollton and Ty Wilkerson of McKinney received Lifesaving Awards for their bravery on May 18, 2025. The troopers responded to a major motor vehicle accident on the Dallas North Tollway involving a wrong-way driver. A Dodge Durango collided head-on with a Mercedes-Benz carrying three women, causing catastrophic damage and igniting a fire in the Durango.
Arriving on scene, Troopers Ellis and Wilkerson broke the windows of the Mercedes to reach the occupants while thick smoke and a small explosion from the burning Durango enveloped them. They then focused on the Durango driver, successfully extracting him from the burning vehicle and carrying him to safety.
Colonel Freeman F. Martin praised the troopers’ actions, noting that they acted under extreme conditions without regard for their own safety. Their quick, decisive response directly saved a life and exemplifies the courage and dedication of DPS personnel across Texas.
