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Keidrick Williams: A Stroke of Fate

by | Dec 2024

On Thursday morning, June 20, 2024, the steady flow of vehicles in front of Walmart on Huntsville Highway was like every weekday. Many were headed to and from work in Huntsville. Some needed to stop at day care first, then step on it to make it to work on time. Delivery trucks passed through with their loads headed to other zip codes while law enforcement kept an eye on it all. 

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Keidrick Williams was in the area watching for routine traffic violations when he spotted a driver without his seatbelt. Although it appeared to be a routine stop, something was off. 

Charles Adam Key sat behind the wheel, his mirror reflecting the patrol car’s flashing blue lights, seized by fear as he waited for the approaching officer. Williams observed Key as he drew nearer. 

“One of the first things I look at when I approach a vehicle is the person’s hands and what they are doing. I recognized Mr. Key’s hands were safely placed, but I noticed his face looked droopy in one area. As I was speaking with Mr. Key, it appeared that his fine motor skills on one side of his body weren’t functioning well also,” Williams recalled. 

Key added, “I was terrified. I could barely talk, and I had no feeling on my entire right side.” 

Williams’ focus was no longer on a seatbelt violation; it was on saving Key’s life. 

“I called a good friend, Logan Weaver, an advanced emergency medical technician, to possibly determine Mr. Key’s medical condition. Throughout our conversation, we came to the decision that it was important for Mr. Key to have further medical evaluation,” said Williams. 

Key immediately placed his trust and safety in the trooper’s hands, and Williams took immediate steps to see that Key received the needed care, dispatching an ambulance. 

Doctors later confirmed Williams’ suspicion — it was a stroke. A routine traffic stop saved at least one life, if not more. 

If the story ended there, it would be a good story. But this isn’t just a story about the mutual trust and respect during the stop; it’s about the care and compassion that followed. 

“I believe it’s important to follow up with individuals to show them that we’re also human. We’re not here only to protect but to serve as well,” Williams said. 

His follow-up impacted Key as much as his care on the scene. 

Key shared, “He has checked on me several times and showed me there are still good-hearted individuals. In the world today, there is so much hatred for our officers. There’s good and bad in every profession, and I feel this community is blessed with some of the best.” 

Williams said, “It’s very heartwarming to me to receive welcoming hugs and firm handshakes from different members of his family.” 

It validated Key’s positive beliefs about local law enforcement and impacted his life in other ways. 

“I have changed my whole perspective on my health and life,” Key said. “My hopes are to live a healthier lifestyle, to never take anything for granted, and to know that life can change in the blink of an eye.” 

Williams hopes that by sharing the story, others will trust those charged with their protection and care more easily. 

“Trust the police. This job is not for everyone; it’s a calling for the men and women who do this job.” 

And the incident taught Williams some things, too. 

“This experience influenced my view of my role as a law enforcement officer in a positive way because it has taught me to not only walk up to the vehicle and deal with the violation at bay but to dig a little and figure out possible reasons behind the violation,” Williams said. “I have been in law enforcement for 5 1/2 years, and you’ll never see the same thing daily throughout the job. It’s very easy to become complacent, but it has shaped me and reminded me daily to slow down and look at the small things to ensure a mistake isn’t made.” 

Williams made a lasting impression on Key. “Officer Williams is someone I will never forget. My family and I can’t thank him enough. If it wasn’t for Officer Williams, I might not be here today. He kept me calm, assured me I would be ok, and made sure I got the help I needed. He did this all with a smile, and the times he’s checked on me, he always has that smile.” 

Williams agrees about the danger. “I’m blessed to have been in the area because I believe Mr. Key wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the good Lord allowing us to meet that day.” 

Despite the difficulties of his work, Williams finds strength in his support system and faith. “This job is very hard on my family and me. If it weren’t for my mother, girlfriend, and beautiful daughter, I don’t believe I’d be able to do this job,” he reflected. “It is truly an honor, and I tell a lot of people that working in the small town you were born and raised in makes it even more rewarding.” 

Drawing inspiration from scripture, Williams concluded, “I like to think of a verse out of the Bible that says ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9).” 

In the end, what began as a simple traffic stop sheds light on the profound effects of kindness, understanding, and a genuine concern for others’ well-being. It encourages us to recognize the impact we can have through our actions and the importance of extending grace and care beyond the boundaries of our expected roles, reminding us that every interaction holds the potential to alter lives and strengthen the bonds that unite us as a community. GN 

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