Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety's Director's Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a fiery two car accident.
Three
Central
Texas
men
were
honored
with
the
Texas
Department
of
Public
Safety
's
Director
's
Award
in
a
Tuesday
morning
ceremony
for
their
heroism
in
saving
the
victims
of
a
fiery
two
car
accident
.
The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on a rain-soaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road.
The
accident
occurred
on
March
25
when
a
vehicle
lost
control
while
traveling
on
a
rain-soaked
State
Highway
6
near
Baylor
Camp
Road
.
It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.
It
ran
into
an
oncoming
vehicle
,
leaving
the
occupants
trapped
inside
as
both
vehicles
burst
into
flames
.
Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming.
Bonge
was
the
first
on
the
scene
and
heard
children
screaming
.
He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith,9, from the wreckage.
He
broke
through
a
back
window
and
pulled
Mallory
Smith
,
10
,
and
her
sister
,
Megan
Smith,9
,
from
the
wreckage
.
The girls' mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bow bin.
The
girls
'
mother
,
Beckie
Smith
,
was
not
with
them
at
the
time
of
the
wreck
,
as
they
were
traveling
with
their
baby
sitter
,
Lisa
Bow
bin
.
Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had up on receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
Beckie
Smith
still
remembers
the
sickening
feeling
she
had
up
on
receiving
the
call
informing
her
of
the
wreck
and
the
despair
as
she
drove
to
the
scene
.
Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.
Bozeman
and
Clemmons
arrived
shortly
after
Bonge
and
helped
rescue
the
other
victims
and
attempted
to
put
out
the
fires
.
"I was nervous," Bozeman said.
``
I
was
nervous
,
''
Bozeman
said
.
"I don't feel like I'm a hero.
``
I
do
n't
feel
like
I
'm
a
hero
.
I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation.
I
was
just
doing
what
anyone
should
do
in
that
situation
.
I hope someone would do the same for me."
I
hope
someone
would
do
the
same
for
me
.
''
Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlife-threatening injuries.
Everyone
at
the
accident
made
it
out
alive
,
with
the
victims
suffering
from
nonlife-threatening
injuries
.
Mallory Smith broke both femurs, and Megan had neck and back injuries.
Mallory
Smith
broke
both
femurs
,
and
Megan
had
neck
and
back
injuries
.
Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis, ankle and foot.
Bowbin
is
still
recovering
from
a
broken
pelvis
,
ankle
and
foot
.
The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
The
rescuers
also
were
taken
to
the
hospital
and
treated
for
cuts
and
smoke
breathing
,
Bonge
said
.
In addition, Bozeman not to meet accident victim Anthony Rus so in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with "Thank you," Bozeman said.
In
addition
,
Bozeman
not
to
meet
accident
victim
Anthony
Rus
so
in
the
hospital
after
the
accident
,
where
Russo
presented
him
with
a
glass
frame
inscribed
with
``
Thank
you
,
''
Bozeman
said
.
Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
Those
involved
in
that
fateful
encounter
on
Highway
6
credited
God
blessing
for
bringing
them
together
.
"Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday's ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers," Beckie Smith said, "We're calling it The Miracle on Highway 6."
``
Whatever
the
circumstances
,
Tuesday
's
ceremony
provided
a
time
to
be
grateful
for
those
who
put
their
lives
on
the
line
for
the
lives
of
complete
strangers
,
''
Beckie
Smith
said
,
``
We
're
calling
it
The
Miracle
on
Highway
6
.
''
Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety's Director's Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a fiery two car accident.  The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on a rain-soaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.  Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith,9, from the wreckage.  The girls' mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bow bin.  Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had up on receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.  Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.  "I was nervous," Bozeman said. "I don't feel like I'm a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me."  Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlife-threatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs, and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis, ankle and foot.  The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.  In addition, Bozeman not to meet accident victim Anthony Rus so in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with "Thank you," Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.  "Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday's ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers," Beckie Smith said, "We're calling it The Miracle on Highway 6."