Senior Trooper Christopher Carlton is being honored with the 2024 Alabama Legislative Meritorious Service Award for Law Enforcement for his exceptional bravery and quick response during an emergency. On February 17, 2023, he arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Houston County, where he found Jessica Joy Thrasher trapped and a 4-year-old child with a serious head injury. Instead of waiting for an additional ambulance, Carlton decided to transport the injured child to Flowers Hospital in his patrol vehicle, accompanied by a nurse who was a private citizen.

The child was stabilized at Flowers Hospital and later moved to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, where he is expected to fully recover. Thrasher was also transported to Southeast Health and then to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where she underwent several surgeries and is anticipated to recover fully. Carlton's decisive actions and willingness to transport the child were crucial in saving the child's life. The Alabama House of Representatives has resolved to honor Senior Trooper Carlton with this award, expressing their utmost gratitude, admiration, and esteem for his service.