COLUMBIA, SC — A Lexington County man who helped North Carolina police capture the men charged with killing two police officers has been given South Carolina's Order of the Palmetto.

Governor David Beasley today gave the state's highest civilian award to Ronald Waters.

Beasley says Waters risked his life to follow the suspects.

Waters said he would do it again, if faced with the same situation.

North Carolina trooper Ed Lowry and Cumberland County, North Carolina, sheriff's deputy David Hathcock were killed September 23rd near Fayetteville.

Waters followed the suspects' vehicle on Interstate 95 and called police. The suspects later swung behind Waters and fired at him. The bullets damaged his Jeep.

Seventeen-year-old Kevin Golphin and 19-year-old Tilmon Golphin are awaiting trial on murder charges. Copyright ©1997 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.

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