Troopers, Citizens Awarded For Saving Lives
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It takes a special kind of person to run towards a dangerous situation instead of away from it.
That's why the Minnesota State Patrol took time Thursday to recognize law enforcement officers and ordinary citizens who stepped up to save someone's life.
Some of the award recipients were people with no training in handling emergencies. Others were experienced troopers, like Sgt. Ron Richards.
Last August on Highway 60 in Jackson County, he saw a semi rear-end another semi, injuring one of the drivers.
Dashcam video captured Richards running to the driver's aid as a fire broke out. One of the trucks was carrying diesel fuel, the other had soy bean oil.
"[The driver] knew he was injured, but he was also stuck in the vehicle," Richards said. "We had to reach into the vehicle and basically figure out how to get his body out of the twisted metal."
Richards and another man pulled the driver out of the truck and carried him to safety.
Another award recipient Thursday was Deno Yannarelli of Minneapolis.
He was at work at a car dealership last May in Roseville when he saw a semi explode on Interstate 35W.
Seconds later, he saw a man on fire.
"I yelled to him, and I jumped the highway fence," Yannarelli said. "He ran to me. He was engulfed in flames. I threw him on the ground. It had rained the night before so the grass was wet."
The wet grass put out the flames.
Both of the victims of the fiery crashes survived and are doing fine thanks to the actions of Yannarelli and Richards.
Several others were also awarded for their bravery on Thursday. Their names and stories can be read here.