Friday, January 21, 2005
The three men saved a fire victim and a car crash victim.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Police issued three Outstanding Citizenship awards to Lawrence County residents for actions that saved the lives of two people.
Phillip D. DeRobbio, Steve Barletto and David W. Johns V were honored Friday at the state police barracks here.
DeRobbio helped rescue Mackenzie Palmer, a 6-year-old girl, who was trapped in a burning house when he agreed to help a police officer who could not fit through the house's window on April 22, 2004. DeRobbio was boosted through the window by the officer. DeRobbio was engulfed by smoke and had to feel his way through the room to find the girl. DeRobbio picked up the girl and handed her through the window to the police officer, who quickly began rescue breathing to revive her.
The child was transported to Tod Children's Hospital in Youngstown and later recovered at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Akron.
The Pulaski Township Patrolman, Chad Adams, was awarded a Pennsylvania Sate Police Commissioners Letter of Commendation for his part in the rescue.
Barletto and Johns were awarded for their part in helping save Meghan L. Brown's life after she was ejected from a car in a vehicle accident on Sept. 22, 2004. Both men were traveling past the accident scene seconds after Brown's impact and ejection, and Barletto found an unconscious Brown's feet trapped beneath a burning car. Barletto could not lift the car off her feet, but together with Johns, who had just joined the scene, they were able to free the woman and drag her to safety on the embankment.
She was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, where she recovered.