Ill. state trooper gets medal for saving woman's life

An Illinois State Police trooper was recognized recently for saving the life of a woman who overdosed on cocaine last year.

Trooper Charles E. Bonifield Jr., of state police District 22, received the department's life saving medal for the March 6, 2005, incident.

Bonifield received a call of a woman not breathing around 11 a.m. while patrolling on Interstate 57 near Ullin, Ill. When he arrived at the Ullin residence, he found a woman lying on the floor not breathing, according to the Illinois State Police.

The trooper, along with an Ullin police officer, began performing CPR with an airway tube until an ambulance arrived and took her to a local hospital.

While en route to the hospital, the woman began to breathe on her own, according to the Illinois State Police.

Bonifield was one of several troopers throughout the state who were recognized during an annual awards ceremony in May for the Illinois State Police.