‘Thankfully he probably saved a life’: Police chief lauds Quincy man for helping lift car off juvenile’s chest

QUINCY — A quick reaction by a Quincy man to a dangerous situation may have saved a person’s life last week.

Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, read a letter of appreciation at the beginning of Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting, recognizing the swift response by Steven Fuller on the morning of Sept. 5.

Yates said Quincy Police Department officer Kevin Taute was sent to the 1800 block of Spring and saw a juvenile pinned underneath a vehicle. 

“The young man had been working on the car when the jack slipped, causing the weight of the automobile to come down on his chest,” Yates said. “Officer Taute attempted to use the jack to lift the vehicle, but it failed to function properly. The juvenile was conscious but was having difficulty breathing, and the situation was quickly becoming life-threatening.”

Officer Chris Mueller then arrived on the scene, and he joined Fuller to lift the car off the juvenile, who was pulled free.

“I live right down the road from the situation, and I happen to see the police vehicle blocking the (road),” Fuller said. “I sat there for a second, and I didn’t think twice. I saw (Taute) running around the vehicle like he was looking for a jack, and then he tried to lift it up himself. 

“That’s when I thought to get out of my vehicle and go see if I could bring him some aid. Fortunately, I was able to get there in time. … We pulled (the car) up, and then another lady who was out there was able to pull him out from under the vehicle. I’m just grateful that he’s alive. I’m grateful that he’s safe and sound. Everybody made it home.”

Yates said Fuller’s recognition of the seriousness of the situation and his willingness to get involved and assist the two officers “did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.”

“Sometimes it’s difficult as citizens to want to get involved in situations that might involve the police,” Yates said. “A lot of times what we find is citizens are more willing to get their cellphones out and start recording video rather than getting involved. I wanted to just point out a situation where the absolute opposite happened, and thankfully he probably saved a life.”

Fuller, a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Quincy, was joined for the meeting by his wife, Marisa, and four children.

“I just want to thank the whole city of Quincy and the QPD, honestly, for making this a great city for me to be able to raise a family,” Fuller said.

In other action, aldermen:

• Heard from Tieraney Craig with the Quincy Brewing Company that 100 volunteers removed three truckloads of trash during a downtown cleanup effort on Saturday.
• Heard from Quincy Mayor Mike Troup that construction on 12th Street from State to Jefferson should be completed by Nov. 1.
• Learned that a ceremony remembering 9/11 is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday outside City Hall.
• Approved Fireworks Authority, Inc., to have a fireworks display on Oct. 19 during the Octoberfest band festival at Flinn Stadium.
• Approved a special event application for the Octoberfest marching band parade on Oct. 19, starting at 1 p.m. at 33rd and Maine and going west to the Quincy Junior High School parking lot, 14th and Maine. 
• Approved a special event application allowing the Quincy High School homecoming parade on Sept. 26, starting at 14th and Maine and heading east to Quincy High School, 33rd and Maine.
• Approved a special event application allowing the Quincy Notre Dame homecoming parade on Oct. 17, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Ninth and Hampshire.
• Gave “Behold King Jesus” a live entertainment/public gathering license for its city-wide worship night with live music on Sept. 13 in Washington Park.
• Approved Quincy Elks Lodge 100 to conduct a raffle and have the bond requirement waived through Nov. 2.
• Approved the mayor’s appointment of Elizabeth Swick to the Quincy Public Arts Commission.
• Approved a quote of $7,688.23 from E.J. Equipment of Troy, Ill., for a 1,000-foot CCTV camera cable.
• Approved a quote of $22,3000 from the University of Missouri-Columbia Fire and Rescue
• Training Institute to conduct training annually to meet Federal Aviation Administration Compliance requirements
• Approved a quote of $34,300 from Midwest Meter, Inc. of Edinburg for meter couplings and flange bolts for the installation and replacement 100 1½-inch water meters and 150 two-inch water meters
• Adopted an ordinance adding “No Parking” signs on north side of State from South 18th Street west to the alley entrance.
• Adopted an ordinance adding “No Parking” signs from the north and south sides of Maine beginning at the center of 24th Street and extending east a distance of 390 feet.
• Adopted an ordinance reducing the speed limit to 25 miles per hour in the Stone Crest Subdivision, Tuscany Fields Subdivision and Cadbury Ridge Subdivision.