Good Samaritan Receives State's Liberty Medal For Rescuing Woman

YORKTOWN, NY — The good Samaritan who helped save a woman’s life after she was trapped in a burning, overturned car on the Taconic State Parkway April 19 was honored recently. Brian Geary, an East Fishkill resident who works for Metro-North Railroad, received the New York State Liberty Medal, the state’s highest honor, from Senators Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park, and Terrence Murphy, R-Yorktown.

“Sometimes the hero is an ordinary citizen who does an extraordinary thing,” Murphy said. “In this emergency, the first responder just happened to be a citizen who had the bravery to respond first.”

Serino said it takes a great deal of bravery to put yourself in harm’s way.

“Mr. Geary’s quick thinking and determination to act, along with his sense of humility following the event, is truly inspiring, and I am elated that I, along with Senator Murphy, have the opportunity to recognize him for his heroism.”

State Police said Linda Gironda, 56, of Yorktown, was traveling south on the parkway when she struck a rock wall on the west shoulder of the Taconic near Exit 14, Baldwin Road, in the Town of Yorktown.

Her vehicle overturned and caught fire, trapping her inside, police said.

Geary, 30, and another passerby, whose name is not known, stopped to help Gironda before first responders had arrived.

The vehicle was locked and Gironda was unconscious, and Geary used a baseball bat which he had in his car to smash the windshield.

Geary and the other person then pulled Gironda out of her car.

Geary was honored in April by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for his actions. He received a commendation from Chairman Joseph J. Lhota at a meeting of the MTA board.

Photo caption: From left, Senator Sue Serino, Brian Geary, Assemblyman Kieran Lalor and Senator Terrence Murphy. Photo credit: NYS Senate Photography.