Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Sergeant Earl Osbon with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of October.
A man was traveling on Macon Road when he was hit from behind by a vehicle traveling approximately 80 mph. This knocked his car onto a railroad tie on the tracks at Ingrillis Road. Sgt. Osbon was off-duty and came across the scene. He rushed to the car to provide aid. The passenger was able to be extracted from the car, but the driver had suffered injuries, and it was advised by a nurse not to move him until paramedics arrived. Sgt. Osbon attempted to have dispatch contact the railroad company, but that was unsuccessful.
A train was seen traveling towards them. Flagging down the conductor was not working. Sgt. Osbon made the decision to extract the man from the car. This was extremely difficult due to the position of the car and the sharp incline up to the tracks. Sgt. Osbon was then assisted by two Good Samaritans, Tyler Routen and Bobby Gray, who each took up one of the driver’s legs to help get him to safety before the train came. Sgt. Osbon fell on the way down but ensured the driver did not suffer further injury. He yelled to the two men to get the driver to safety. The driver turned out to be the father of Deputy Marcus Streeter.
They got Streeter out, just as the train hit the car, placing Sgt. Osbon in danger of being struck. Everyone involved was safe and spared further injury.
Sheriff Greg Countryman presented Sgt. Osbon with the Meritorious Conduct Medal and Tyler Routen with the Meritorious Citizenship Medal. Bobby Gray was not in attendance but will also be recognized.
A ceremony with Osbon and hospital leadership was held at the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office headquarters to commend him for his response.
Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in 2016 to recognize first responders and everyday heroes each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“Their line of work is often a thankless job, and we want to make the community aware of what our local heroes do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.
