WESTFORD — A local man was honored by the Westford Police Department for his role in rescuing a driver from an overturned vehicle submerged in water.
On the evening of Friday, Jan. 31, members of the Westford Police Department and Westford Fire Department responded to 29 Williams Ave. for a report of a motor vehicle crash.
Ryan O’Neill, a Westford resident, called 911 after witnessing a vehicle flip over due to icy road conditions.
The vehicle came to rest upside down, with its passenger compartment submerged in water.
Before first responders arrived, O’Neill informed dispatchers that the driver was trapped inside.
He retrieved a baseball bat from his vehicle and broke the passenger side window.
He then removed the driver from the vehicle and brought them to his own car to protect them from the cold.
Emergency personnel arrived shortly after to find the driver uninjured.
During the Westford Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, the police department recognized O’Neill’s actions by presenting him with the Civilian Service Certificate, awarded to civilians who go beyond personal safety to aid others.
