Five Soldiers of the United States Army were recognized for their life saving efforts by Washington State Patrol (WSP) District 8 Captain James R. Mjor II on Tuesday morning.

Command Sergeant Major Dario Gundersen, Captain Seamus Bradley, First Sergeant Gerardo Moran-Tovar, Staff Sergeant Richard Lawson, and Sergeant Lonnie Rogelio Williams were recognized and awarded the WSP Life Saving Award for their efforts during a collision in September 2021.

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, five soldiers were traveling on U.S. Highway 101 in Grays Harbor, WA, when they witnessed a vehicle on fire that was involved in a head on collision. The soldiers were able to act quickly, put out the fire, and render aid to a female driver, Montana Driver, who was entrapped in one of the vehicles. They were able to keep the driver calm until Life Flight arrived. The driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The cause for the collision is still under investigated.

Driver who could not be in attendance created a video that was played at the beginning of the ceremony. Driver stated, “You are my heroes and without you I surely believe I would not be here today.”

Captain Mjor presented the soldiers with their award Tuesday, stating, “If it wasn’t for the soldier’s quick efforts, we would not be here celebrating.”

The Life-Saving award may be presented by the WSP to citizens, employees, or other law enforcement officers who took life-saving action to save the life of another person without endangering themselves, which is later selected by WSP Chief John R. Batiste.