Soldier who rescued New York bus accident victims receives honor

Over the summer the lives of several citizens were dramatically altered when they were involved in a New York bus accident. The crash was so severe that the bus burst into flames and could have ended the lives of many on board if it were not for a young soldier who risked his life to save the injured on board.

The soldier was honored this week for his selfless participation in the rescue of a number of passengers. The ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at a military post in New York – the same post the soldier had driven home from on the day of the crash. The man was honored with one of the highest military awards for a noncombat act of heroism, the Soldier’s Medal.

According to reports, the bus accident occurred on a New York State Thruway at a point located between Syracuse and Rochester. According to witness recounts, the soldier valiantly returned to the flaming bus on multiple occasions to assist injured passengers who may have been unable to exit the vehicle on their own.

There were approximately 50 passengers on the bus who were injured. The driver of the second vehicle involved lost his life in the accident.

Although the lives of those involved were saved by the soldier, many of the accident victims could still face complicated treatment procedures and plans, high medical bills, lost wages and many more damages for simply getting on the wrong bus at the wrong time. Passengers who are seriously injured in bus accidents may be able to obtain compensation for the damages they suffer.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, “Missouri soldier honored for NY bus crash rescue,” Dec. 13, 2011