New London police are honoring the heroes who helped rescue an injured person during a crash and fire on the Gold Star Bridge earlier this month at an event next week.
State police said something caused the tire of a Toyota Avalon to deflate around 11:17 a.m. on Friday, April 21. The car stopped and a heating oil truck hit the back of the car and rolled over then the fire started.
Wallace Fauquet III, 42, of Stonington, an employee of McCarthy Heating Oil Service, was driving the truck and died from his injuries, police said.
The two people who were in the Toyota suffered minor injuries, according to state police.
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People who saw what happened ran toward the scene to do what they could to provide assistance.
The group included New London Police Lieutenant Cornelius Rodgers, who was off-duty, and Brandon Bylo.
The group was able to get a man out of a car that had crashed before flames reached it.
Rogers was off-duty and returning from the gym when he saw the crash and went to help.
Bylo, who acted quickly to help, said a group of people ran toward the car.
“I saw two other gentlemen helping carrying a man, one by his leg and one by his front arm so I grabbed his other front arm,” Bylo said.
Rodgers and Bylo will be honored by New London Police on Monday, May 8. Police said Rodgers and Bylo displayed extreme heroism, character and a relentless life-saving commitment under enormously challenging conditions.
The event will be held at the Garde Arts Theater in New London at 5 p.m.
