Man credited with saving life

‘More formalized acknowledgment in the process... SANDRA M STANWAYBrooks Bulletin A Bassano man is being credited with saving a driver’s life after a crash on ... Read more

‘More formalized acknowledgment in the process... SANDRA M STANWAY Brooks Bulletin A Bassano man is being credited with saving a driver’s life after a crash on July 8. Around 9:35 a.m., a vehicle struck a power pole on 11th Street just west of Range Road 183, snapping the pole in half, sparking a grass fire and knocking out power in parts of the community. A column of black smoke rose from the scene.

A Bassano resident drove toward the crash, found the driver unconscious inside a vehicle and acted immediately. “This person took it upon himself to drive to the scene and located the vehicle driver unconscious and his vehicle surrounded by the grass fire,” said Bassano Sgt. Joe Schmidt.

Not wanting to risk further injury by pulling the driver out, the man grabbed a chain, hooked it to the vehicle and towed it away from the burning grass and damaged pole before calling 911. “Without the quick thinking of this individual, the vehicle would soon have become engulfed in flames and the injuries to the driver could have been grave,” Schmidt said. “Actions like this speak to the character, humanity and courage of our local Bassano community.

What this man did was save a life. A more formalized acknowledgement is in process.” EMS treated the driver and transported him to Brooks Health Centre with non‐life‐threatening injuries.

Bassano firefighters quickly contained the grass fire to a small area. Police believe the collision was medically related.