Boak & Sons workers honored for life-saving efforts at crash site

CANFIELD

Don Hutchinson, Cardinal Joint Fire District chief, presented Life Saver awards this week to three Boak & Sons employees for their courageous efforts to save victims of a car accident on Raccoon Road.

Hutchinson said this is an award given to citizens who take a step out of their routines and save lives.

Gary Jones, Chris Denno and Richard Markel were working on a roof on Raccoon Road around 1 p.m. Oct. 27.

The men heard the collision and raced to help the victims inside the flame-engulfed car.

They were able to pull Tesla Haberger and Damian Ouellete, out of the vehicle to safety. Haberger died due to extensive injuries, however.

“We put our lives on the line every day at work, and we weren’t even thinking – we just wanted to help somebody,” said Denno, a Boak & Sons foreman.

Denno’s wife, Katie, said she is proud that her husband didn’t even hesitate to help people in need.

“His selflessness was used to help another person’s life,” Katie Denno said. “As bad as the situation was, he knows in his heart he did everything he could do.”

Read more about the honors in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.