Hempfield Area student recognized for saving boy at drive-in theater

Hempfield Area junior Jacob Shepler didn’t have much time to react when he saw a vehicle poised to run over his sister’s friend at the Evergreen Drive-In.

The 17-year-old went with his gut reaction.

“I just jumped in front of it,” the Hempfield resident said, “and I started waving my arms and screamed ‘Stop!’ ”

In April, Shepler was attending a movie at the East Huntingdon drive-in theater with his sister, Anna-Marie, and two of her friends from Greensburg Salem School District: Drake and Alonna Sutton.

Their mothers, Gretchen Shepler and Carissa Sutton, supervised.

Drake Sutton peacefully drifted off to sleep, lying atop the cool grass at the drive-in theater. That was until a car, veering off the designated exit path for drivers, began heading straight toward him.

Jerome Shepler, Jacob’s father, was not with the group for the movie that night. But he can recount the events.

“Everyone else was screaming ‘stop’ before that, and (the driver) just wasn’t hearing it or paying attention,” Shepler said. “(They) were continuing to drive and ignoring everybody.”

The car stopped just inches away from Drake, pausing for a few seconds before backing up and driving away, Jacob said.

Jacob has been involved with the Scouting America program through Delmont-based Troop 211 for about seven years. He has completed the emergency preparedness merit badge — which requires the Scout to create a first aid kit, learn what to do in emergency situations and take steps toward prevention.

But nothing could have prepared him for reacting quickly that April evening, he said.

Grateful for the teen’s actions, Carissa Sutton contacted state Rep. Eric Nelson’s office about recognizing him.

State police Troop A, based in Hempfield, decided Aug. 15 to present Jacob with a troop commander’s letter of recognition.

Capt. David A. Surra has worked out of the Troop A barracks since April 2024. This is only the second time he has issued such an award, he said. Gov. Josh Shapiro also issued a governor’s office commendation.

Surra felt Jacob’s actions exemplified bravery, one of six state police core values.

“He put himself in harm’s way to prevent the serious injury of other children at the drive-in that evening,” Surra said. “He injected his own person into the situation to stop an action that could have seriously injured, or worse, children.”

The local Scouting America office has submitted a report of his actions to the national organization for consideration of a Scouting Hero Award, Shepler said.

“(Jacob) was very modest about it — still is,” he said. “He doesn’t understand why it’s a big deal. And I keep trying to explain that not everybody takes action.”