By Joanna Putman
Police1
PITTSBURGH — A trooper has reunited with a man he said saved his life in August, KDKA reported.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Josh Osche, who was off-duty at the time, stopped to help a tow truck driver who had been involved in a hit-and-run incident, according to the report.
As Osche was putting on reflective safety equipment and setting up glow sticks, he was struck and thrown ten feet into the air by a car, which did not stop to give aid.
Blair Johnson, the tow truck driver, dragged Osche from the center lane to the side of the road, stabilized his neck and stayed with him until help arrived, according to the report.
The two met in November to discuss the incident and reflect on what happened.
“I saw it coming. I knew he didn’t see it. He had his back turned. I just let out as loud as I could, a scream,” Johnson said.
When asked if he felt like he was going to die, Osche said, “I felt like it was distinctly possible.”
“We talked about little things: What troop are you in? How long you been a trooper? When did you go to the academy? Those types of things, just to keep his mind off of it,” Johnson said.
Osche’s legs were broken during the incident, one of them in five places. He has had two surgeries so far and is in extensive physical therapy, according to the report.
“Everything about what he did, he was being so genuine. It was easy to have someone to talk to there,” Osche said.
