Three citizens were honored for rescuing a man trapped in his vehicle as it was burning.
On June 27, 2025 a fiery crash on Rogue River Highway near Gordon Way prompted a swift response from the three.
A Ford Mustang and a commercial water truck collided. The driver of the Mustang, John Irwin, was trapped inside his car as it burst into flames. Calls came into Grants Pass 911 Communications, who mobilized crews from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and AMR-Josephine County.
While first responders were en-route to the incident, citizens at the scene, Chelsae Booth, Andrew Clem, and Michael McGilvreay, jumped into action to pull John from the wreckage. The three worked together to force open the passenger door, unbuckle John, and pull him to safety before the vehicle became fully involved.
Austin Prince, Operations Chief with Rural Metro Fire, recently led a joint multi-agency effort to recognize the heroic acts of Booth, Clem, and McGilvreay.
Each were presented with a Commendation for Heroism, citing, "For brave composure and swift action under extreme circumstances to rescue a trapped driver at the scene of a fiery crash. Your willingness to intervene, even at the risk of your personal safety, was instrumental in saving a life. You define the finest example of a good Samaritan who is willing to get involved and change the life of a complete stranger."
