A Guard's Ordeal: Folsom Security Officer Speaks Out After Terrifying Hit-and-Run

Imagine, if you will, a quiet night in Folsom, suddenly shattered by the screech of tires and a man's scream. That's the chilling reality Patrick, a dedicated security guard, faced recently while simply doing his job. He was diligently watching over a construction site when a routine encounter with a suspicious vehicle turned into a life-altering nightmare. It's a story that truly makes you pause and think about the profound risks some brave individuals take on our behalf, every single day.

Patrick was on patrol, keeping an eye on the property, when he spotted a truck where it shouldn't have been. As any good security professional would, he approached the vehicle, attempting to engage the driver and understand their presence. But instead of a simple explanation or compliance, he met with something far more sinister. The driver, later identified as Samuel David Rodriguez, clearly had no intention of cooperating or explaining himself. The situation escalated in a heartbeat, a terrifying blink-and-you-miss-it moment that forever changed Patrick's life.

“He just... he hit me, you know? And then he just kept going,” Patrick recounted, the words still echoing with the shock and pain of that instant. The truck, rather than stopping, accelerated, striking Patrick and dragging him for a short, agonizing distance before his body was horrifyingly run over by its wheels. The sheer brutality of it all is almost unfathomable. One moment, he was standing, performing his duties; the next, he was beneath a heavy vehicle, in excruciating pain, his world spinning completely out of control.

The list of injuries Patrick sustained is truly heartbreaking, a testament to the force of the impact. We're talking a broken leg, both an ACL and MCL torn in his knee, a severe concussion, and countless scrapes and bruises across his body. “My entire left side just... it's gone,” he shared, highlighting the profound and debilitating impact on his body. Just picture that – the pain, the helplessness, the immediate understanding that life as you knew it has irrevocably changed. It’s not just physical wounds; it's the deep emotional trauma that lingers, the feeling of vulnerability.

Mercifully, law enforcement swiftly apprehended the suspect. Samuel David Rodriguez, 36, is now facing a litany of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run causing injury, and even elder abuse. While Patrick isn't elderly, the charge likely reflects a broader context or other factors discovered during the investigation. Knowing the person responsible is off the streets offers a small measure of solace, but it certainly doesn't heal the body or mind.

Patrick's journey to recovery is, as you might imagine, incredibly challenging. He's already been through one surgery, and there are more complex procedures on the horizon. Simple tasks that we often take for granted, like walking independently or even just getting around his home, are now monumental efforts for him. He openly admits to the frustration, the deep emotional toll it's taking, not just on him but on his family who have had to witness his suffering. “It’s just hard,” he confessed, and you can practically hear the weariness, the profound weight of it all, in his voice.

Yet, amidst the pain and the arduous physical therapy sessions, there's an undeniable spark of resilience in Patrick. He wants to walk again, to reclaim his independence, and most importantly, to stand on his own two feet. This incident serves as a stark, painful reminder of the dangers that security guards and other frontline workers face every single day. They put themselves in harm's way, often with little fanfare, to protect property and people, and sometimes, they pay an incredibly steep price.

As Patrick continues his brave fight, his story resonates far beyond Folsom. It’s a powerful testament to human fortitude in the face of senseless violence and a crucial call to acknowledge the quiet courage of those who stand guard. His recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint, but if his spirit and determination are any indication, he's ready to face it head-on. We truly wish him all the strength in the world for a full and comprehensive healing.