Off-duty officer saves crash victim’s life

On January 29, 2022, Officer Jessica Sirignano was traveling home from work when she came upon a vehicle crash involving a motorcycle on US 41 in Palmetto. The crash had taken place several minutes before she arrived, and no other emergency personnel were on scene yet. She immediately turned her patrol vehicle around and started to assist. The motorcycle riders, a husband and wife, were both critically injured in the crash. One of the woman’s legs was severed below the knee, and she was losing a significant amount of blood. Officer Sirignano applied a tourniquet and rendered CPR until she regained consciousness. Officer Sirignano then turned her attention to the woman’s husband. He also had significant injuries and was losing blood. Officer Sirignano used the man’s belt to create a make-shift tourniquet to slow the bleed and, again, rendered CPR. Manatee County EMS arrived shortly after that and took over emergency medical procedures.

The couple was transported to the hospital, where, unfortunately, the husband succumbed to his injuries. Despite losing her leg, the woman, later identified as Martha Stroup, survived the crash and is making a full recovery.

Officer Sirignano is credited with saving the life of Mrs. Stroup. On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 8:30 AM, Chief Melanie Bevan will present her with the agency’s Life Saving Award. This will take place near the beginning of the Bradenton City Council meeting in front of City officials, the survivor of the crash with her family, agency members, and the public.

We are inviting members of the news media to be present for this event.