While responding to a call, an ambulance parked at the top of a steep gravel driveway came out of gear and began to rapidly roll down the hill, knocking a medic to the ground.

Morris caught up to the truck, got around the door and into the ambulance, and put one foot on the brake. He used his foot that was still out of the door to push the medic still on the ground out of the way of a sliding tire.

“Morris began to sprint after the truck. I remember saying to myself that there is no way he is going to get around that door, inside the vehicle, and stop the ambulance,” said Transylvania County Sheriff Chuck Owenby. “I could see the medic trapped under the truck, and people standing at the bottom of the hill. I knew I was about to witness multiple severe injuries and possible deaths, including Deputy Chief Morris.”

Morris caught up to the truck, got around the door and into the ambulance, and put one foot on the brake. He used his foot that was still out of the door to push the medic still on the ground out of the way of a sliding tire.

“The ambulance finally stopped moving. The paramedic had only minor injuries. Some of the first words out of her mouth were, ‘I just saw my whole life flash before my eyes,’” Owenby said.

“Deputy Chief Morris’ quick thinking, fast actions, and a willingness to sacrifice his own life, without any doubt in my mind, saved the life of the medic and multiple bystanders at the bottom of the hill,” Owenby continued. “He deserves a tremendous amount of credit and is worthy of heroic status.”