On Sept. 2, Tammy Stewart heard a car crash in the 2000 block of Clover Basin Drive. She ran from her home to investigate and called 911. She approached the car to find it was engulfed in flames and the driver was trapped inside.
Officer Justin Hill arrived on the scene within three minutes of the 911 being placed. Seeing that the car was on fire, Hill attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful.
Stewart, Hill and another resident Aussie Carrera tried getting the driver out of the vehicle. It took several long minutes before the small team was able to bend the door frame enough to get the man out of the car. The man and other occupants of the vehicle were seriously injured, according the Longmont Police.
Stewart, a nurse, rendered medical aid until the fire department arrived.
“It demonstrates that we have a great community with love of man or love of persons in our community,” said Police Chief Jeff Satur as he presented the award. “We have people who are willing to risk their lives, both police officers and citizens, to help on another.”
“It makes us all very proud,” Mayor Joan Peck said.
Stewart and Hill were presented with awards at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Hill received the Medal of Valor award which is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Longmont Police Department, Satur said.
Correction: The incident occurred on Sept. 2, not Sept. 1 as previously stated.
