From left, Kosciusko County Commissioner President Bob Conley, Leesburg resident Cory Black, Syracuse resident Joshua Parker and Kosciusko Commissioner Vice President Cary Groninger. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW —  A Leesburg resident credited with saving the life of a motor vehicle crash victim was honored at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, March 16.

Commissioners presented Cory Black, of Leesburg, with a framed certificate proclaiming him to be “an outstanding American.”

Black described his involvement as a “right place, right time kind of deal.”

Shortly before 5 p.m. on June 18, 2020, Black was in his home in Leesburg, located across from the Marathon Gas Station, when he heard a loud boom.

“My girlfriend said there was a car in front of our driveway leaking stuff and when I looked out, I saw a motorcycle and a person lying on the road,” Black said.

That person was Joshua Parker of Syracuse. 

The scene of the June 18, 2020, crash. Photo provided

Parker was northbound on a Harley-Davison motorcycle when a Chrysler 200 made a turn onto Van Buren Street and pulled into the path of Parker’s motorcycle. 

Kosciusko Commissioner President Bob Conley said the impact threw Parker over the windshield of his motorcycle. 

Black rushed outside and applied a tourniquet to Parker’s leg.

“I did everything that I was trained to do in the military to save his life,” Black said. “Everything happened in a split second, but it seemed like time slowed down so I could do what needed to be done.”

Parker sustained severe lacerations to his upper thigh and arm and was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend by the Parkview Samaritan Air Ambulance.

Black remained by Parker’s side until medics loaded Parker onto the ambulance.

Conley said several of Parker’s arteries were severed.

“He (Black) could have stayed in his house and thought ‘Oh, there’s a car wreck outside, it happens all the time,’ I think I’m gonna take a bath and go to bed. He didn’t do that,” Conley said. “He put himself out there and he made the decision to get involved and I’ll guarantee you Mr. Parker is here today because of (Black’s) quick action and I think everyone in (Parker’s) family realizes that and we thank God for people like Cory.”

“I’m glad I was there,” Black said at the commissioners meeting Tuesday. “I spent 12 years in the Army so far. We’ve done multiple medical trainings over the years and it finally paid off. If this is the only time I ever use it, I’m glad it was this one.”

The certificate presented to Black by commissioners reads: Kosciusko County Commissioners be it known whereas, in the Town of Leesburg, Kosciusko County, Indiana, on Thursday, the 18th day of June 2020, Mr. Cory Black did voluntarily render life saving aid to the victim of a vehicle-motorcycle accident and whereas, with no regard for his personal safety, Mr. Black’s quick action and knowledge did save the life of Mr. Joshua Parker. Therefore, the Kosciusko County Commissioners do hereby declare for his selfless and heroic efforts, Mr. Cory Black is an outstanding American and citizen of Kosciusko County.

Parker, who was also in attendance at the meeting Tuesday, referred to Black as his hero.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn’t be here – it was close,” Parker said.

Black and Parker have stayed in contact following the accident, messaging each other a couple of times a month. Black also works with Parker’s mother.

“Before the accident, I didn’t know who he was,” Black said. “And now it’s like we’re all family.”

From left, Black’s girlfriend Teri Poff; Joshua Parker’s wife Lindsey; Joshua Parker and Cory Black. Photo provided