Lufkin Hero: Officer Christian Ibarra Honored for Saving a Life on an Overpass

Lufkin Police Officer Christian Ibarra was honored Tuesday evening for saving a woman who recently tried to jump from an overpass in Lufkin.

During the August 5 Lufkin City Council meeting, Ibarra was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal by Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas, and Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks presented Ibarra with a certificate of recognition.

Details Of The Event

The incident began with Ibarra responding to a call about a person on an overpass. He pulled up to find a woman standing against the concrete barrier on the east Loop overpass at Ford Chapel Road.

When the woman saw the police vehicle, she immediately straddled the barrier.

Ibarra, quickly exiting his vehicle, yelled for the woman to get down and away from the edge. As he approached, she tried to drop herself over the concrete wall to land on the road below, but Ibarra caught her, pulling her back over the concrete and onto the roadway.

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“Our officers encounter situations like this more often than most people realize,” said Lufkin Police Chief David Thomas. “All of our officers are unsung heroes, doing their job daily and not expecting any recognition. This is their job, their responsibility. None expect recognition, but as a community, we need to be sure to take note of the kind of work they do daily to keep our community safe."

“Helping this woman in a time of crisis was part of Christian’s normal workday,” Thomas said. “After he took her to a local healthcare facility and made sure the staff knew of her situation and that she was safe, he went back to his patrol unit and back to work.”