Community Hero: (L to R): ILWU Local 13 President JoJo Cortez, LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck, and ILWU Local 13 member Mark Jurisic. Jurisic was awarded the LAPD ’Hero Award’ for stopping to render assistance to a man who was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in Wilmington. Jurisic performed CPR on the man until paramedics arrived. He was trained in CPR at the ILWU Memorial Hall in course provided by the Pensioners.
Mark Jurisic, ILWU Local 13 E-Board member, was presented with the LAPD’s “Hero Award” for his act of bravery on September 8th when he stopped to render assistance to an injured pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. Jurisic was on his way to work when the collision occurred at 5:50 am on Pacific Coast Highway and Ronan Avenue in Wilmington, CA. A motorist in a 2008 Ford Ranger was travelling east on Pacific Coast Highway and struck an elderly man that was attempting to cross the street. The man was incapacitated and severely injured.
Without hesitation, Jurisic stopped his vehicle to assist the injured pedestrian. He gave CPR to the man for 5 minutes until paramedics arrived. Other motorists also stopped, but Jurisic was the only one who knew CPR, thanks to the a recent course he took at the ILWU Memorial Hall provided by the Pensioners.
“Though the elderly man later succumbed to his injuries, Mr. Jurisic clearly illustrated concern for a fallen citizen and his act of heroism exemplified genuine compassion for humanity,” said Captain Phillip Tingirides of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Not only did Mark stop to render aid to someone unknown to him he attempted to save a life and The Los Angeles Police Department honors Mr. Mark Jurisic for his act of bravery and we recognize you as a community hero.”
Jurisic stayed at the scene of the accident until LAPD arrived to provide emotional support to the driver of the truck. He was only 18 years old and did not see the man crossing the busy street in the dark. Mark has six children and knew exactly what to say to help this young man. The man was on his way to work and Jurisic called his family to let them know what happened and also called the man’s employer to explain that he would not be on time to his job that day. Mark left his ILWU business card with the officers and finally continued on to the dispatch hall. He never thought twice about stopping to provide help.
Other ILWU members that were on their way to dispatch recognized Mark and were later able to tell the family of the man who had come to their father’s aid. The man’s son is a Casual Longshoreman in Los Angeles-Long Beach.