By Eric Williams

The Orange Leader

 

The Vidor Police Department honored six officers on Wednesday at Vidor City Hall with the Valor Award to recognize the officers for their heroism.

Officers of the Vidor Police Department heroically risked their lives to save two victims of a submerged vehicle on the night of June 30, 2017.

David Ninteman, 25 of Vidor, was driving, and Alexandria Marie Halliday, 51, of Cedar Park, Texas was the passenger.

Their vehicle left the road and flipped into the School House Ditch in the 600 block of S. Main Street. The first officer on scene found the vehicle submerged upside down in approximately four feet of water.

Officers determined the victims were trapped in the upside down vehicle, risking their own lives the officers and citizens were able to flip the vehicle on its side. Officers removed the two occupants from the vehicle who had been under water for approximately twelve minutes. Unfortunately the following day, July 1, 2017, Alexandria Halliday passed away from her injuries, and the driver David Ninteman remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Due to the heroism of the Vidor Officers earlier this month 36th Congressional District Congressman Brian Babin recognized these officers for their courage to not only attempt to save two lives at the risk of their own lives.

“Nothing makes me more prouder than ever to see what my officers did,” Chief Carroll said. “On behalf of the Vidor Police Department and citizens of Vidor, I would like to congratulate these officers and citizens on going above and beyond the call of duty to make difference in another’s life.”

The six officers awarded were Sgt. Loredo, Officer Meineke, Officer Meadows, Officer Mansfield, Officer Fischer, and Officer Stephenson.