Vicksburg native Jeremy Ellis honored after pulling driver from burning car on Dallas Tollway

DALLAS, Tx.(VDN) — Vicksburg native Jeremy Ellis was recently honored with a lifesaving award for his actions during a wrong-way crash on the Dallas North Tollway, where he pulled a driver from a burning vehicle and helped prevent further tragedy.

Ellis, a trooper with the Texas Highway Patrol, received the North Texas Region Major’s Award in recognition of his heroic and decisive actions and his commitment to protecting the citizens of Texas. His professionalism and courage were cited as reflecting the highest standards of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to the press release, the incident occurred Nov. 16, 2025, at approximately 1:50 a.m., when Trooper Jeramy Ellis was dispatched to a report of a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Panther Creek Parkway. Upon arrival, Ellis recognized the imminent danger posed to uninvolved motorists traveling directly behind him and took swift action to protect everyone involved, averting a potentially catastrophic head-on collision.

The release stated that Ellis displayed extraordinary courage, selflessness and unwavering composure while drawing upon his specialized training to intercept the wrong-way driver. The driver was taken into custody without incident and arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Ellis shared his reaction to receiving the award in a Facebook post.

“I am deeply grateful and honored to have received this award,” Ellis said. “I am currently overwhelmed with emotion. My experiences have presented me with challenges that required swift decision-making, and I have consistently demonstrated my ability to navigate complex situations, achieving success. I must express my sincere appreciation to God. I am proud to represent Texas.”

Officials said Ellis’ actions undoubtedly saved lives and brought great credit to himself, the Plano District and the Texas Department of Public Safety.