Lee County sheriff presents life‑saving award to Deputy Alejandro Castro

Sheriff Clay Whelan presented Deputy Alejandro Castro with a plaque and a life‑saving award at the Lee County Board meeting, citing Castro's actions at a Feb. 12 crash.

Whelan told the board that at about 8:05 p.m. the county ETSB received an iPhone crash detection from Pump Factory Road near the Green River. Deputies responded and 14 minutes later Castro arrived and found a truck hanging off the east side of the bridge and a single male occupant who was conscious but entrapped with a partial amputation below the knee and heavy blood loss. "Deputy Castro carries a tourniquet with his duty gear, and he immediately applied it to the right leg of the victim," Whelan said. Within two minutes Sergeant Matt McGrail arrived and provided a second tourniquet.

Whelan said Castro maintained communication with the man while awaiting EMS; the victim was extricated and flown to St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. In follow‑up, Whelan said several EMS personnel told him the application of the tourniquet most certainly saved the individual's life. To recognize that action, the sheriff's office presented Castro with a plaque and a life‑saving award.

The board offered brief applause and moved on to other business. No additional board action was required for the award.