By Peter Hall
The Morning Call
POCONO SUMMIT, Pa. — When Hilton Quintana heard a voice calling for help inside an overturned and burning car, he ran toward it and fought to open the jammed driver’s door.
Moments later, Pocono Mountain Regional Police officer Kyle Van Note joined Quintana and together they rescued Andreas Kruizenga from the blazing wreck.
“At that moment that was the only thing that was right to do,” Quintana said Thursday.
For saving Kruizenga’s life on Aug. 25, 2016, Quintana, 59, and Van Note, 32, were awarded the Carnegie Medal for outstanding civilian heroism, an honor given to those who risk their lives while saving or attempting to save the lives of others, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Tuesday. They are among 20 people, including seven who lost their lives in attempts to save others, who were awarded the medal and a financial grant from the commission this month.
Quintana said in an interview last year that his wife noticed the glow from the burning car, which had crashed into a tree and flipped over near their home on Devils Hole Road in Paradise Township. While his wife dialed 911, Quintana dashed to the car.
“I heard the man screaming,” Quintana said last year. “It was a very low, weak voice asking for help. He was mumbling and the flame was going heavy toward the center of the car.”
I was expecting a handshake or a letter, something like that, but I am really honored and really proud. — Hilton Quintana on receiving the Carnegie Medal for outstanding civilian heroism
Quintana pulled on the front door, which was stuck. Then Van Note arrived and both of them heaved on the door of the upside-down car. Although they were able to open the driver’s door, a burst of flames from inside the car forced them to retreat, Quintana said.
Opening a rear door, Quintana and Van Note found Kruizenga lying on the ceiling of the overturned car, his clothing in flames and his mouth full of soot. Van Note and Quintana pulled Kruizenga from the car and dragged him a dozen paces when flames reached the car’s fuel tank and it exploded, Quintana said.
The car, lying next to the oak tree it hit, exploded a second time a few minutes later, he said. Firefighters then quickly extinguished the fire as paramedics attended to Kruizenga.
Kruizenga was taken by medical helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest where he was treated for severe burns and recovered, according to the Carnegie commission. The driver told Quintana that he had blacked out before the crash.
Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner said the department was pleased to announce the award for Van Note, who is now a detective.
Quintana said he’s still in shock after learning about the award Tuesday.
“I was expecting a handshake or a letter, something like that, but I am really honored and really proud,” he said Thursday.
Quintana said the greatest reward is knowing that Kruizenga lived.
“That’s happy for me. That’s good for me that he’s alive with his loved ones,” Quintana said.
Pittsburgh steelmaker Andrew Carnegie established the hero fund in 1904. He was inspired by acts of bravery by people who attempted to rescue miners after an explosion in a western Pennsylvania coal mine that killed 181, the commission said.
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