ARIZONA NEWS

QuikTrip worker in Buckeye awarded for helping save the lives of 2 men over the summer

Oct 17, 2024, 4:30 AM

Buckeye gas station worker honored as Good Samaritan...

Buckeye Police awarded Sergio Avitia on Oct. 2, 2024, for being a Good Samaritan during an incident that took place in July. (Buckeye Police Department Photo)

(Buckeye Police Department Photo)

PHOENIX — West Valley authorities recently awarded a gas station worker for his actions during a life-or-death situation in July.

The Buckeye Police Department called Sergio Avitia, who is in his 20s, a Good Samaritan while giving him his award in early October.

Avitia works at the QuickTrip near Miller Road and Interstate 10 in Buckeye.

He helped save two lives when he assisted a police officer responding to an overdose call at his place of work on July 26.

How did gas station worker in Buckeye help save lives?

Initially, one Buckeye police officer responded to the scene.

She had arrived in time to help two men who were overdosing in a vehicle parked at the gas pumps.

Avitia, who was working at the QuikTrip, helped the officer put the men on the ground so they could administer doses of Narcan, an opioid reversal medication.

She told him to copy what she was doing, and he immediately mirrored her actions with precision, police said.

The officer began chest compressions on one of the overdosing men, while Avitia monitored the other man’s pulse.

A second officer then arrived on the scene to help.

Together, the three cooperated to save the man. As the first officer left to grab an automated external defibrillator (AED), the other officer maintained consistent chest compressions on one man. During this time, Avitia administered Narcan to the other man.

Once the first officer returned with the AED, she gave Narcan to one of the men.

Avitia’s initiative and helpfulness played a huge role in helping the two men survive, according to a Monday news release from Buckeye Police.

How did Buckeye gas station worker get awarded?

Word of Avitia’s work as a Good Samaritan got back to Buckeye Police Chief Bob Sanders, who wanted to shine a spotlight on his good deed.

Sanders invited the Buckeye gas station worker to the police station on Oct. 2.

During his visit, police presented him with the Community Member Lifesaving Award.

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QuikTrip worker in Buckeye awarded for helping save the lives of 2 men over the summer