The Incident

During his patrol, Officer Gorskikh was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Lyn Alan Smith, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The impact injured Gorskikh and resulted in significant damage to his patrol car.

Heroic Actions Taken

Despite being injured, Gorskikh’s instinctual response led him to act swiftly. Body camera footage from a responding officer captured Gorskikh breaking the window of Smith’s vehicle, which was locked and engulfed in flames, to rescue the driver who was unresponsive.

He explained, “At that moment, I was like, hey, we got to get this guy out of here before another vehicle struck him or the fire got much bigger.”

Following the rescue, Gorskikh carefully lifted Smith over a concrete barrier, prioritizing their safety amidst fast-moving traffic.

Aftermath and Legal Actions

Both Gorskikh and Smith were transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. Subsequently, Smith was arrested and faces charges of intoxication assault. Officer Gorskikh, who has been a member of the Rowlett Police Department for only a short time after previously serving with the Dallas Police Department, emphasized the reason behind his actions:

“You can’t take it personally. It’s called an accident for a reason,” he remarked, highlighting the need for understanding in such circumstances.

Background on Officer Gorskikh

At just 28 years old, Gorskikh is not only an officer but also a former Army soldier who now has a wife and a newborn child at home.