It was a more poignant Thanksgiving than normal this year for James Watts. He was thankful for his life as well as the man who saved it.
“Without him I’d have never seen my family or another Thanksgiving again,” Watts said.
Watts, 63, was driving on Delilah Road in Pleasantville, New Jersey on Thanksgiving Eve when he suffered an apparent medical problem. He lost control of his Chevy Sedan and crashed into another car in a nearby parking lot.
“I don’t remember anything,” Watts said.
The accelerator on Watts’ car jammed and its spinning tires melted causing both vehicles to catch fire. A passing driver tried unsuccessfully to get Watts out. That’s when Pleasantville Police Detective Adam Brownlee arrived at the scene and jumped into action.
Brownlee placed Watts’ car in park, pulled him out and rushed him to safety.
“It was definitely heroic,” said Pleasantville Police Captain Matthew Hartman. “It was something he didn’t have to do. He put this individual first.”
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Brownlee, who has worked in law enforcement for 20 years, 14 of those in Pleasantville, is set to retire next month. But Watts is thankful he was on the job the day he nearly lost his life.
“I’d like to give my thanks to him,” Watts said.
While Brownlee has been praised by both Watts and his fellow officers for his heroic actions, those who know him say he’s not one for the spotlight.
“He’s a very humble guy and you won’t see him in front of the camera,” said Captain Hartman. “Other than what you see on this video.”
