Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Justin D. Hedrick was recently awarded the Medal of Valor by Gov. Mike Kehoe for physically stopping a wrong-way driver from continuing to travel south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 55 in 2025.

The Medal of Valor is Missouri’s highest award recognizing public safety officers who “exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.” Hedrick was presented with the award on Sept. 15 — approximately 19 months after he performed the deed he was honored for.

According to the governor, on the night of Feb. 23, 2025, Hedrick was in South County when he heard radio traffic that a sedan was traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-55. Hedrick entered northbound I-55 from Butler Hill Road, observing the sedan approaching him traveling in the wrong direction.

Hedrick activated his lights and siren and used his air horn in an attempt to slow down the wrong-way vehicle. When this did not deter the driver, Hedrick reduced the speed his vehicle was traveling and, as the wrong-way vehicle was about to pass him, he intentionally struck its driver’s side with the front of his patrol car, forcing the wrong-way vehicle off the roadway and disabling both vehicles.

The driver was arrested for DWI. Hedrick suffered a concussion and an injured wrist.

“On the night of Feb. 23, 2025, Trooper Hedrick was faced with an imminent threat to innocent motorists. He made the split-second decision to intervene, undoubtedly protecting other motorists from serious injury or death,” Colonel Michael A. Turner, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, told The Call. “Trooper Hedrick placed himself in harm’s way to protect the safety of others. His actions that night are a testament to his dedication to protect the citizens of Missouri.”

In total, Kehoe honored 22 first responders — 18 law enforcement officers, three members of the fire service and one paramedic — as well as two civilians who assisted first responders, with Missouri Public Safety Medals on Sept. 15. Six of those honorees, including Hedrick, earned the Medal of Valor; other awards included the Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award, the Governor’s Award and the Red, White and Blue Heart Award.