Lawton Man Awarded Oklahoma Star Of Valor For Helping Pregnant Stabbing Victim

Sergeant Kevin Painter of Lawton put himself between a stabbing victim and her attacker earlier this year along Interstate 35.

Sunday, June 14th 2015, 2:41 pm

By: Dee Duren

Lawton Man Awarded Oklahoma Star Of Valor For Helping Pregnant Stabbing Victim

A Lawton man was awarded the Oklahoma Star of Valor in an Oklahoma National Guard ceremony Sunday at Ft. Sill. Sergeant Kevin Painter, a medic in the 45th Infantry Brigade, put himself between a stabbing victim and her attacker on March 15, 2015.

Painter treated a woman - who was 8-months pregnant - for numerous stab wounds to her arms and hands. She was attacked along Interstate 35 near the interchange with Interstate 40, according to the Oklahoma National Guard.

Police say the woman was in a car with a man when they had a fight. He started stabbing her then pulled over to the side of the road and continued stabbing her as she lay on the ground.

3/15/2015 Related Story: Police: Man Jumps Off I-35 Bridge After Stabbing Woman

Painter used his combat medic training to treat the woman until police and first responders arrived. The suspect ran from the scene and jumped off the I-35 bridge into the Oklahoma River.

The Oklahoma Star of Valor is awarded to someone who risks life or limb in protection of another's life.

“It's not something I did for an award or recognition,” Painter said.

“You just react. When you're training to be a combat medic, you can't think about what you do, you just do it. It just clicks.”

The woman has since had her baby and both are doing well, according to the National Guard.