Bus crash victims and hero soldier tell of rescue from fire, explosions

syracuse.com [NY] ^ | Saturday, July 23, 2011 | Charley Hannagan / The Post-Standard

[brityank]

Bus crash victims and hero soldier tell of rescue from fire, explosions

Syracuse, NY -- William and Sandy Blair worried as they sat in row 8 of the Farr’s Coach Lines Ltd. tour bus on the side of the New York State Thruway early Friday in Junius Ponds.

Driver Rene Bisson had pulled the eastbound tour bus to the side of the road to reset the electronics emission control. The bus was carrying 52 passengers from London, Ontario, on their way for a three-day weekend in New York City.

... ... ...

At about the same time, Army Sgt. Jacob Perkins, 28, was driving his truck westbound. Perkins was stationed at Fort Drum in the First Squadron 89th Calvary Regiment and had served in Iraq. He was beginning a couple of weeks leave with a long drive to his home in Mountain Grove, Mo.

“It was just a big fireball of a crash. There were two vehicles burning on the side of the road and people were outside, but there weren’t any first responders there,” he said.

Perkins pulled his truck over.

“All of a sudden this guy came running. He ran right onto the bus that was fully engulfed in flames,” Michelle said.

[This is an excerpt. Read the whole story.]

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping, brityank.

Army Sgt. Jacob Perkins acted heroically and deserves recognition from his command.

It’s heartening to know our military do the right thing when confronted with adversity by putting their own safety aside for others.

[BykrBayb]

Thank you for pinging me to this. Thank God for men such as Sgt. Perkins.

[beachn4fun]

Thanks for the Hero Ping Kathy.

What a great story.

R I P Timothy Hume

[SJSAMPLE]

I believe the “Soldier’s Medal” was created for acts of non-combat valor such as these.

[SoldierDad]

I’ve been away from the computer for quite a while and am just now getting to this. Thanks for the ping. Amazing story. My son, now with the 25th Inf Div (2/35th Regiment - 3rd BCT), wishes he was back with the 1/89th. Presently he’s deployed in Afghanistan.

SD

[SoldierDad]

Thank you for the ping, Kathy. Great story. I’ve been offline for quite a while, and am just now getting my pings. Robert has returned to Afghanistan after being on leave, and with his wife, twin sons, and newborn son.

SD