A few weeks ago, during the early hours of an April morning, a mother and her two children were in grave danger as their car veered off the side of the road. Fortunately, a US Marshal was present to offer assistance.
At 4 a.m., Sandy Ledbetter-Clarkson was driving on Interstate 295 South towards Richmond International Airport. As a US Marshal, she was en route to Ohio to extradite a fugitive when an unexpected event occurred.
While on the road, Ledbetter-Clarkson witnessed a car accident that put a mother and her two children in grave danger. Her actions following the accident were deemed heroic by the Virginia State Police, although she does not consider herself a hero and believes that anyone else in her position would have acted in the same manner.
Although many people are aware of the aid Ledbetter-Clarkson provided to a woman in need while en route to catch a flight for work, she believes that there was no question about whether she should offer assistance.
On a typical Sunday, the US Marshal anticipated a regular workday, but a spontaneous encounter resulted in her aiding a woman who could have potentially been left stranded with two young children. As Ledbetter-Clarkson was driving, she noticed the woman’s car veering off the road.
Initially, she assumed the car was merely pulling over, but upon realizing that the vehicle was not slowing down, it continued to tumble down an embankment and hit a tree.
Ledbetter-Clarkson was aware that she needed to take action and assist in any way possible. Little did she know that her actions would result in the rescue of an entire family.
Upon observing the incident, the US Marshal pulled over her car and promptly made her way to the accident site. As she approached the car, she could hear the driver’s cries for aid, and upon reaching the vehicle, she discovered that two young children were also present. Ledbetter-Clarkson recounted:
“God put me in the right place at the right time.”
The US Marshal Saved Two Children and Their Mother
With quick thinking, Ledbetter-Clarkson accessed the car and successfully evacuated the two children from the back seat, ensuring their safety. As they reached the top of the embankment, one of the children inquired, “Are you going to save my Mommy?”
Without any delay, Ledbetter-Clarkson sprang back into action and approached the smoldering car to aid the woman seated in the driver’s position. She managed to release the driver from her seatbelt entanglement and escorted her out of the vehicle.
However, the rescue mission required more than one person. At this moment, she sensed divine intervention providing assistance. Ledbetter-Clarkson revealed:
“I had her halfway up the hill. And there stood a man just out of nowhere. And I said, ‘Dude, you gotta help me get this lady the rest of the way up the hill.'”
Initially, the man was hesitant, but after some persuasion, he assisted Ledbetter-Clarkson in safely transporting the woman up the embankment to her children. She recalled being apprehensive that the burning car could potentially detonate at any moment.
Ledbetter-Clarkson and Her Helper Acted in Time
Fully cognizant of the peril that the woman faced by remaining in the burning car, Ledbetter-Clarkson and the man worked together to expeditiously transport her up the hill and away from the vehicle.
In a race against time, Ledbetter-Clarkson and her accomplice emerged victorious, managing to transport the driver to the top of the embankment safely. However, by that time, the car was entirely ablaze.
Thanks to Ledbetter-Clarkson’s prompt and decisive actions, the woman and her two children sustained only minor injuries. Moreover, Ledbetter-Clarkson was still able to make her flight to Ohio later that morning.
According to the police, had Ledbetter-Clarkson not arrived on the scene as promptly as she did, the outcome of the story could have been considerably more calamitous. Nevertheless, the mother and her children are all in good condition and are anticipated to make a full recuperation.
“Everybody Knows Sandy”
When not rescuing families from burning vehicles, Ledbetter-Clarkson commands respect on the streets of Richmond for her expertise in her professional life. Her proficiency in apprehending criminals even earns her the respect of those she arrests.
Back in 2013, Ledbetter-Clarkson was a part of a task force dispatched to track down a fugitive who was on the run. Despite the expectation that the fugitive, Kelvin M. Coleman Jr., would resist arrest or flee, he surrendered himself without resistance to Ledbetter-Clarkson and her team upon exiting his residence.
Apparently, Coleman was anticipating Ledbetter-Clarkson’s arrival and had even attempted to contact her the night before to coordinate his surrender at the suggestion of his mother. Regrettably, Ledbetter-Clarkson missed the call. She later apologized for missing the call and informed Coleman’s mother of his surrender.
On their way to the police department, Ledbetter-Clarkson realized that she had previous interactions with Coleman’s family since she had previously arrested his sister.
According to Richmond police Detective Corey Watson, Ledbetter-Clarkson is well-liked by everyone, and he even added a playful remark:
“Everybody knows Sandy.”
In Richmond, Ledbetter-Clarkson is renowned for her strict but fair approach, and she has gained the respect of the entire community. She is one of the few law enforcement officials known by name to everyone in the area.
Despite having a busy life as a mother, wife, and respected law enforcement officer, Ledbetter-Clarkson still managed to find time to appear on the show “Crime 360,” which focused on law enforcement in Richmond. Her episode aired in 2008, long before her heroic acts were widely known.
Throughout the show, Ledbetter-Clarkson demonstrated her unwavering dedication to justice and her firm but fair approach to law enforcement. Despite her busy schedule and growing reputation in the community, she remains a humble and kind person who earns the respect of those around her with every act of kindness she performs.