OC firefighter honored for saving suicidal man's life

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (KABC) -- Orange County Firefighter Mike Curtis, credited with quick thinking that averted a tragedy on the I-5 Freeway in Mission Viejo, was honored on Tuesday. He stopped a man from running into traffic lanes and causing a major accident.

The incident happened on Saturday, May 31. Curtis and his engine company were returning to their Mission Viejo station after a training session. They were on Crown Valley Parkway near the 5 Freeway.

"We were stopped by a motorist saying that somebody was running in traffic. We ended up bringing the engine down with lights and sirens, confronted the patient and noticed at the time that he was most likely under the influence of drugs," said Curtis.

The other firefighters on the engine with Curtis say the man was on the Crown Valley overpass running toward the freeway.

"I drive the fire engine. I tried to head him off with the engine, seeing that he was heading towards the bridge. And we came within a couple feet of him, but he just squeezed in between the bridge and the fire engine," said Robert Frisk, Orange County Fire Authority.

That's when Curtis started chasing him through some shrubbery below the overpass.

"He did stumble on his way down the ice plant, which gave me a little bit of time to catch up to him and tackle him, and then a couple other deputies helped me restrain him," said Curtis.

OCFA Captain Steve Stewart says he was pretty certain that the man they were going after wanted to commit suicide.

"Looking at him, I truly believe he was going to try to end his life," said Stewart. "I think he was going to run into the roadway. So I think Mike saved his life."

The unidentified man Curtis chased down was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

"We're here to help people," said Curtis. "And when you see something that needs to be done right now, I guarantee you any of the rest of the guys probably would have done the same thing."