Connecticut Civilian Honored for Helping Rescue National Guard Officer in Fiery Crash

A New York Army National Guard soldier and six civilians, including one from Connecticut, are being honored for rescuing a National Guard officer from a fiery vehicle crash on the Thruway last year.

Sgt. John Tirinato of Castleton will receive the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal during a ceremony being held Saturday afternoon at the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquarters in Syracuse.

Six civilians -- four from the Syracuse area, one from Connecticut and one from Toronto -- will also receive the medal.

They're being recognized for their heroism after Capt. Timothy Neild of Wynantskill crashed his pickup truck into a Thruway overpass in DeWitt. The seven helped pull the Afghanistan war veteran from the burning wreck.

An eighth rescuer -- Sgt. 1st Class Ray Presley of the National Guard -- was awarded a medal last spring.