Off-duty officer saves driver’s life: police

An off-duty RCMP officer is being credited with saving a driver’s life in Kelowna.

Mounties say Constable Scott Anderson was driving in the 1500 block of Gordon Drive Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 25) on his day off, and while stopped at a red light, he saw a red Honda Civic with an elderly male driver who didn’t advance once the light turned green.

The officer drove through the intersection and decided to circle around to see if the car had eventually moved, but it had not. He stopped and saw the driver, who appeared to be unconscious, was slumped over the steering wheel.

He then called 9-1-1.

“After attempting to wake the driver up from outside the vehicle by knocking on the windows and trying to open the doors, Constable Anderson used his elbow to break the rear passenger window and put the vehicle in park,” said Ryan Watters, communications advisor, police services.

Anderson then checked the driver for a pulse, but none was detected, and just at that time, the fire department arrived on scene and performed CPR.

“The driver appeared to begin breathing on his own again and was transported to a local hospital by EHS. It is no doubt the observations and actions of Constable Anderson saved the driver’s life,” Watters said.

“Scott is a kind, compassionate, and professional police officer who takes pride in his work and the service he provides to the community,” said Staff Sergeant Duncan Dixon, the NCO in charge of West Kelowna Detachment.