A Metro Police officer is one of two Nevada National Guard captains being lauded as heroes for saving a crash victim’s life this week while on assignment in Virginia assisting with President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Army Capts. Tana Gurule and Tyler Wistisen, both of the Guard’s 1-221st Cavalry, and 1st Lt. Michael Flury sprang into action when they witnessed a speeding vehicle crash into a cement wall in Fairfax County, which trapped a female motorist.
It wasn’t clear to which battalion Flury is assigned.
Metro said Wednesday that Gurule is “no stranger to heroic actions,” having received a Medal of Honor for ushering attendees of the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest festival to safety when a gunman opened fire in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Gurule, who was subsequently honored by former President Donald Trump, was off-duty, enjoying the concert when gunshots rang out that fateful Oct. 1, 2017, officials said.
“We salute you Officer Gurule!” Metro wrote on Facebook. “You continue to make us proud. Thanks to all the brave men and women of the Nevada National Guard for their service.”
“The (Nevada National Guard) Soldiers and Airmen continue to protect & save lives here in Nevada even while ensuring the protection of our nation’s capital,” Gov. Steve Sisolak wrote on Twitter today. “No one could disagree that they are always there for us, at the right place & at the right time – Thank you!”
From left, National Guard Pfc. Christian Briggs, Nevada National Guard Capt. Tana Gurule, National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Munoz, and National Guard 1st Lt. Jeremy Johnson. Gurule, a soldier and Metro Police officer, is being praised for saving a motorist's life following a crash in Virginia Tuesday, Jan. 19, as the military personnel were assisting with President Joe Biden's inauguration.
Gurule, Wistisen and Flury rushed to the wrecked vehicle after the crash Tuesday in Tysons, Virginia.
Gurule, a Boulder City resident, who is an emergency medic in training with Metro, “pulled the windshield out of the vehicle, found a pulse rate, and opened the accident victim’s airway,” the guard said.
“She looked deceased but gulped a huge gasp of air when her airway was opened,” Gurule was quoted by the Guard as saying. “She was alive — thank God.”
Emergency responders eventually pried the woman out of the vehicle and hospitalized her in critical condition.
Gurule said “hospital officials told her later the driver is no longer in critical condition. She did have two broken ankles and a broken femur,” the guard said.
Gurule and Wistisen were among the 250 Nevada National Guard troops assisting in Wednesday’s inauguration.
About 25,000 National Guard personnel were dispatched to Washington to support local law enforcement following the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when Trump supporters stormed the iconic venue.
No major incidents were reported Wednesday at the heavily guarded ceremony.