Quick Thinking and Training: Officer’s Response Saves Woman from Choking on Highway

Texas Cop Saves Choking Woman on Highway

A Life Saved on I-20: Mansfield Officer’s Swift Action Turns Crisis Into Relief

Saves Woman from Choking on Highway

In a remarkable display of awareness and courage, a Mansfield police officer turned a potentially tragic moment into a story of relief and gratitude on Interstate 20 in 2024.

The incident began when a woman, identified only as Samantha, began choking after accidentally swallowing a piece of gum. The medical emergency was triggered when another driver suddenly swerved in front of her, causing panic. Unable to dislodge the gum herself, Samantha switched on her hazard lights and desperately continued driving—hoping someone would notice her distress.

Officer Chad Stevens, a 12-year veteran with the Mansfield Police Department, happened to be returning from Everman when he spotted her erratic driving.

“She was swerving back and forth, speeding up and slowing down, so I could tell they were probably in some kind of distress,” Stevens said Thursday. “When I got up beside her, she was waving like, ‘Help me!'”

Dashcam footage shows the moment both vehicles stopped on the shoulder of eastbound I-20. Samantha emerged from her car coughing and clutching her neck.

“You’re choking? Turn around,” Stevens can be heard yelling in bodycam audio.

Without hesitation, Stevens applied the Heimlich maneuver, delivering four quick compressions. The gum dislodged, and Samantha immediately regained her breath.

“Thank you so much. Oh my gosh,” she told the officer. “I was looking for anybody.”

Stevens called a medic, though Samantha declined further assistance.

Officer performs Heimlich maneuver, saves choking driver

“She said she was driving for probably 15 minutes and she said it was getting worse,” Stevens recounted Thursday. “She was just kind of breathing through the holes in the gum.”

Though he’d never performed the Heimlich maneuver in the field before, Stevens credits department training.

“I believe firmly any officer in the Mansfield Police Department would be able to do the same, with the training we experience,” he added.

With characteristic humility, Stevens quipped:

“I’m glad I was at the right place at the right time. That’s what we’re here to do.”

In an age where headlines often highlight the worst, this story is a refreshing reminder of the everyday heroes among us. Officer Stevens’ quick thinking, calm under pressure, and commitment to service exemplify the best of community policing. While it may have been “just a piece of gum,” the implications of a few lost minutes could have been fatal. His presence—and readiness—made all the difference. Samantha’s story is a powerful testament to how training, instinct, and humanity intersect in moments that matter most.

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