Sacrificial Suicide

The Tampa Bay area has experienced more than its share of wrong way drivers the past few years. And I think it confounds the average driver how such a thing could possibly happen; especially on well-lit, adequately-signed thoroughfares, such as interstates and parkways.

On March 12, 2016 another tragic accident occurred on the parkway in Tampa. John Kotfila, a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the incident in a virtually unprecedented manner, and his quick thinking and the actions which followed go far beyond charitable. 

The newspaper report conveys it well.

“Deputy Kotfila's final moments were spent trying to help someone else. Sarah Geren and her boyfriend were driving home from Ybor City on the Selmon Expressway Saturday morning, when she spotted the wrong way driver.

"I was flashing my lights crazily at him like a strobe light.--click click click click, because I couldn't think of any other way to say 'Stop driving at me!  Please don't hit me!'" Geren said.

But before she knew it, Deputy Kotfila, who was driving right behind her, passed her, taking the impact in the crash that ultimately killed him and the wrong way driver.”

What kind of man is this?

It occurs to me that the two word phrase, “Sacrificial Suicide” says it well, and says it all.

I can only imagine the momentary decision and emotional dynamic it took to purposely pass the would-be victims, and place one’s self “in the line of fire;” realizing that in the space of a few moments he would almost certainly be ushered into eternity.

In the New Testament, John 15:13, we read,

“Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for a friend.”

Deputy Kotfila did one better. He sacrificed his life for someone with whom he was altogether unacquainted.

And as a result, two precious young people were provided the wherewithal to continue living, and moving and breathing and loving; whereas, both would have almost certainly lost her lives that day.

May God hold this sacrificial law officer in the hollow of His loving arms, and reward him for having given the last full measure of devotion.