ANGELES — Port Angeles Police Officers Lilliana Emery and Kyle Cooper and Cpl. Jeff Ordona have been recognized for heroic actions in rescuing a driver trapped in a burning vehicle.
The three were honored Tuesday at the Port Angeles City Council meeting, receiving Life Saving Medals and Meritorious Service medals for their actions on April 11.
Officer Lilliana Emery, Officer Kyle Cooper and Corporal Jeff Ordona were recognized for their heroic actions late April 11 when a car traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a business on First Street near Chase and burst into flames.
Officers found an unconscious driver, later identified as 22-year-old Mason Stollar of Port Angeles, trapped inside the burning vehicle. Action was needed immediately.
Officers couldn’t wait for firefighters. So they slowed the fire with an extinguisher, stabilized the man trapped inside and freed him from the wreckage.
Emery suffered lacerations and Cooper had part of his uniform singed by the fire.
Engine 11 arrived on scene approximately 4 minutes after the officers and right after the driver was extricated. The Engine 11 crew was able to quickly extinguish the fire. Given the spread of the fire and the danger presented to the driver, officers could not have waited to act.
