Fort Bliss retracts story about soldier who saved life of man in serious crash

Fort Bliss officials have retracted a story published on Jan. 9 about a Fort Bliss soldier who saved a man on Interstate 20 “due to factual inaccuracies.”

It was reported by Fort Bliss that 20-year-old Sgt. Trey Troney, an Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, saved a man who was seriously injured with a hoodie and an ink pen Dec. 22, 2018 in Sweetwater, Texas.

Their statement said in part, “The entire 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss team sincerely apologize to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, the city of Sweetwater, Texas, the city of El Paso, the University of Texas at El Paso, the New Orleans Saints, the local and national media and the American people.”

Troney allegedly came across a crash involving a pickup truck and two tractor-trailers. Troney then pulled over and helped the driver of the pickup, Jeff Udger, of Longview, Texas, who was bleeding from a head injury, had cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.

Troney allegedly wrapped his hoodie around Udger’s head to stop the bleeding. According to the release, Udger joked with Troney about wrapping a New Orleans Saints hoodie around him.

“Well, this is Cowboy country, so I don’t know how I feel about you wrapping me up in a Saints hoodie,” Udger told Troney.

Troney also allegedly used a decompression needle to help relieve pressure from Udger’s chest.

Troney told the El Paso Times, “I was glad I was in the right place at the right time.”

Troney has been stationed at Fort Bliss for four years.