A St. Paul Park man is being awarded a Carnegie Medal for saving a man from a burning vehicle last year in St. Paul.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Thursday that Michael E. Coy is among 17 people who will receive North America’s highest civilian honor for heroism.
The rescue received international attention after cameras on the car of one of the good Samaritans captured the dramatic events along Interstate 94 near Snelling Avenue. The Minnesota State Patrol presented six people — Coy, Tesfaye Deyasso, Lacie Kramer, Tessa Sand, Kadir Tolla and Dave Klepaida — with its Meritorious Citizenship Award for the rescue.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission selected Coy for its honor because they determined he “was the only one who entered the car from the passenger door, taking on significantly more risk than the others outside the car,” according to Jewels Phraner, director of outreach and communications.
On April 18, 2024, Sam Orbovich, then 71 and a retired attorney, swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle, causing him to strike a lamppost and guide rail. The vehicle started on fire.
Coy, a 52-year-old delivery driver at the time, witnessed the crash.
“He immediately went to the scene, pulling on the handles of both doors on the driver’s side before he realized they were blocked by the guide rail,” said a description from the Hero Fund Commission. “Coy ran around the vehicle as flames from beneath and beside the vehicle licked at his feet and lower legs. He opened the front, passenger door and kneeled on the seat but the flames caused him to move to prevent being burned.
“Coy helped Orbovich remove his seat belt, then helped him position himself to sit on the console with his feet against the driver’s door,” the description continued. “He intended to drag Orbovich backwards out the door as other bystanders tried in vain to open the driver’s door or break the window.
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“Flames soon entered the passenger compartment through the door opening and the dashboard, vents, and floorboards. Blistering heat forced Coy out through the passenger door as flames soon fully engulfed the passenger compartment and blocked Coy from re-entering.”
A Minnesota Department of Transportation “highway helper” used a window-punch tool to break windows. Orbovich pushed his legs through the opening and Coy and others pulled him out. They carried him to the highway.
Orbovich was taken to the hospital for his injuries, as was Coy for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor burns to his face, arms and legs. Both men recovered.
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