Kentucky inmate credited with saving jailer who had diabetic emergency

JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. — A Kentucky inmate is being called a hero after his quick actions helped save a deputy’s life earlier this week.

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Terry W. Smallwood, 30, was one of four inmates being driven back to the Jessamine County Jail by a deputy jailer after working in a litter cleanup detail on Tuesday, WKYT-TV reported. According to Jessamine County Jailer Jon Sallee, the driver had a diabetic emergency and passed out behind the wheel of the vehicle when his sugar levels dropped, WTVQ-TV reported.

Smallwood has been an inmate at the jail since June 22, 2021, according to the Jessamine County Detention Center’s website. Sallee said that when the deputy lapsed into unconsciousness, Smallwood, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to the deputy, reached over and applied the brakes on the vehicle, safely bringing it to a stop, the television station reported.

Smallwood then put the vehicle in park and began providing care to the deputy until first responders arrived, The Jessamine Journal reported.

“First, if not for his actions, the vehicle could have either ran off the road or hit oncoming traffic causing damage and injuries to those in the vehicle and other vehicles traveling on the road,” Sallee told the newspaper in a statement. “Second, if the deputy had not received medical care in the amount of time that he did, he potentially could have gone into a diabetic coma.”

The name of the deputy has not been released.

“I cannot thank inmate Smallwood enough for his heroic actions that day that potentially saved the lives of not only our deputy but also the other inmates in the vehicle and citizens traveling the road that day,” Sallee said.

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