DOTHAN, AL— In December 2021, Houston County Deputy Ben Parrish had a severe car accident while responding to a call, where he was seriously injured and in the ICU for weeks.
Two months later, the deputy is well thanks to a good man, Preston Anderson, who saw the accident and called 911 immediately. At that moment, seconds were crucial for the survival of deputy Parrish, so he helped as much as he could until the emergency crews arrived.
“I happened to see the rear end of the Tahoe flipped over,” Anderson said. “I turned around, and I get out and all I saw is a star of the sheriff’s deputy and that was it. I just called 911, and I just helped him as much as I could, while I could, before anyone got there.”
The Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza presented Anderson with a lifesaving award, to honor his bravery and quick action.
Deputy Parrish showed his gratefulness to Anderson in person for his actions on that day. Anderson said that he hopes his actions will serve as an example to follow.
“It’s just one person helping another,” Anderson said. “Not many people think that’s what in this world anymore, but hopefully what I did is what promotes others to do the same thing also, help each other in need.”
Anderson says he never would have thought he would save someone’s life, but the Houston County Sheriff’s Department is grateful.
“We want to thank him for what he’s done, saving our deputy’s life,” Sheriff Valenza said.
