Civilian, Cop Get Montco Recognition For Gladwyne Burning Car Rescue

GLADWYNE, PA – Recently, a King of Prussia man and a Lower Merion Police Officer were commended by Lower Merion officials for saving a man from a fiery wreck on New Year's Eve last year. Now, those two heroes have received recognition from Montgomery County officials for their life saving deed at a ceremony that honored civilians and law enforcement members in the county.

A total of 34 civilians and law enforcement members from across the Montgomery County and beyond were honored at a ceremony Thursday at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus

LMPD Officer Stephen Patton and King of Prussia resident Ronald Shields were commended for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a car crash in Gladwyne on Dec. 31, 2016

The men were honored for saving Reginald Huc, of Lower Merion.

Huc crashed on Lafayette Road in Gladwyne, striking a tree and causing the car to catch fire on December 31. Shields came upon the crash and attempted to get the driver and sole occupant out of the vehicle and Patton responded shortly thereafter.

Patton, Shields, and a third person who was not identified pulled the driver from the car as flames entered the passenger compartment.

"It's a very surreal thing to process," Huc said at the Lower Merion Township meeting where the two were honored. "I'm so grateful and proud to be a member of this community."

Huc thanked Patton and Shields for their selfless acts, saying he would not be alive were it not for them.

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