Two Bayfield residents received awards from the Colorado State Patrol for saving the life of an Ignacio woman after a car accident in May 2013.
The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Colorado Department of Transportation, 20581 U.S. Highway 160 in west Durango, said Capt. Adrian Driscoll with the Colorado State Patrol. Chief Scott Hernandez presented the awards.
Richard Scott Key was awarded the Certificate of Honor, the highest merit the State Patrol can bestow upon a private citizen.
Danica Tarkington was awarded the Certificate of Commendation for her efforts in providing assistance to the emergency-response crew.
Rachel Alires of Ignacio drove into a traffic-signal pole May 19, 2013, on U.S. Highway 160 at Three Springs Boulevard. Key and Tarkington were quick to act after witnessing the car burst into flames, according to a news release issued Thursday by the State Patrol.
The duo quickly summoned response crews.
Key unbuckled Alires’ seat belt and extracted her from the blazing car to a safe distance. He went back for Leah Tsosie, a passenger in the vehicle, and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to her. Despite his efforts, Tsosie later was pronounced dead at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
After a police investigation, Alires, 30, was charged with vehicular homicide-DUI, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
She pleaded guilty to the lesser felony charge of vehicular homicide-reckless driving and driving under the influence, according to court documents. She was sentenced Jan. 24 to two years in prison.
Attempts to reach Key and Tarkington for comment were unsuccessful as of Thursday evening.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
