Image of a heartbreaking car crash caught people’s attention for one reason that’s hard to spot

A police officer took the time to comfort an 8-year-old boy who was injured during a car crash on an Interstate.

Sgt. Kay Denton snapped a photograph at the scene that showed fellow officer Cpl. Christopher’s act of compassion.

The 8-year-old had been trapped under a mangled car. Kay was worried about the child’s fate until she witnessed Christopher’s interaction with him, writing: “This child was an eight-year-old black male who was scared to death and had some internal injuries. This officer laid on the ground with this child, cradling his head in his hand and talking to him to keep him calm.”

Christopher also learned the accident happened on the boy’s birthday.

“At one point the child reached over and patted the officer on the head and then played with the officer’s hair!” Kay wrote.

She finished by writing: “THIS is why I’m a police officer—to help people, to be there for them no matter what the circumstances are, and no matter what skin color! With all the “anti-police” propaganda that is seen in the media, all of the ‘bad cop’ stories, and stories of ‘racial’ issues, I wanted to share THIS.”

Officer Christopher has been with the Police Department since 2013. He is one of the department’s supervisors for the traffic team and a K-9 handler. “Cpl. Christopher has been an exceptional officer during his time with our department,” Kay said.