SELLERSBURG – At its annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday morning in Indianapolis, the Indiana State Police honored troopers from across the state for exceptional service and dedication that often goes unnoticed by the public. Among those recognized were Master Trooper Geltmaker and Senior Trooper Powers of the Sellersburg Post, each receiving a Life Saving Award for their decisive actions that helped save the life of a motorist on Interstate 65 in 2025. The official award citation reads as follows:
M/Trooper Justin B. Geltmaker and S/Trooper Eric J. Powers are hereby proclaimed publicly to be deserving of praise and respect for their extraordinary conduct in a lifesaving effort.
On October 2nd, 2025, at approximately 2:57 p.m., Indiana State Police Dispatch received numerous 911 calls regarding a vehicle driving erratically for several miles northbound on I-65 in Clark County. Callers reported that the driver was unable to maintain their lane, the vehicle struck guardrails, ran over road sign(s), exited and re-entered I-65, and nearly ran numerous cars off the roadway.
Trooper Eric Powers ultimately located the vehicle in the right driving lane of I-65 near the 24.5 mile marker, disabled. The vehicle had multiple flat tires and obvious front-end damage. The female driver (lone occupant) indicated she had not eaten anything and thought her blood sugar was too low. Trooper Powers immediately requested EMS be summoned to the scene to assess and assist the driver.
A short time later, Trooper Justin Geltmaker and Lt. Col. Rob Priest arrived at the scene to provide additional assistance. Officers were able to converse with the driver until she laid her head back on the headrest and quickly lost consciousness. An assessment revealed the female had an extremely faint pulse, with breathing worsening from shallow to none at all.
All three ISP officers immediately began lifesaving measures. Trooper Geltmaker delivered Narcan to female. The Narcan was ineffective. Likewise, sternum rubs from LTC Priest had no effect.
Trooper Geltmaker and LTC Priest began two-person CPR while Trooper Powers applied his AED to the female. Rescue breathing and chest compressions were continued for approximately seven minutes, at which time the female began breathing on her own and regained consciousness. Though confused, she was able to communicate once again. Afterwards, EMS arrived and transported the female to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
It is without question that the decisive and proper actions of Trooper Powers, Trooper Gelman, and Lt. Col. Priest saved the life of an Indiana motorist who would have assuredly succumbed to a medical emergency. The exemplary life-saving efforts of these three men are hereby recognized and well represent what it is to be an Indiana State Trooper.
M/Trooper Geltmaker and S/Trooper Powers are to be commended for their extraordinary conduct in saving the life of a fellow human being.
