By Lt. Jason Jackson

VP-46 PAO

A sailor at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station saved a 3-year-old girl from a precarious situation and averted a possible tragedy April 14.

Christopher Halladey, an aviation warfare systems operator second class with the Grey Knights of Patrol Squadron 46, noticed a van rolling out of a residential driveway while he was driving on Whidbey Avenue. The vehicle was headed directly toward the busy intersection of Whidbey Avenue and Midway Avenue.

“I was shocked to see the only occupant of the van was a young girl standing up on the driver’s seat,” Halladey said.

The toddler had inadvertently shifted the van into neutral, allowing it to roll downhill. Halladey stopped his car and chased the van on foot. Upon catching the van, he jumped in the driver’s door and stopped the van just short of the intersection.

The child’s mother was relieved and thanked Halladey for his actions.

Halladey, originally of Alvadore, Ore., has been in the Navy for five years and is a P-3 acoustic operator and instructor with the Grey Knights. His actions exemplify the Navy core values of honor, courage and commitment.