Two months after a fatal multivehicle crash at the foot of Lookout Mountain, the Chattanooga Fire Department honored the man who pulled a 3-year-old girl from the wreckage.
Chattanooga Fire Chief Philip Hyman presented the Citizen Achievement Award to Van Anderson on Wednesday morning at the fire administration building on Wisdom Street, saying Anderson exemplified some of the best things this community has to offer.
He said the award is a rarity, but was well-deserved in this case because Anderson risked his own life to help the child.
This was the wreck scene on Feb. 17th, with an 18-wheeler off the road on its side. The pickup truck was underneath the 18-wheeler's tank.
"It's something where an individual puts themselves in harm's way beyond what other citizens might be willing or able to do," Hyman said. "We encourage the public to let the professionals handle emergency situations because we don't want other people to get hurt, but Mr. Anderson stepped up when he was needed."
According to police, Mallory Baldschun was driving up Ochs Highway when a tractor- trailer hauling hazardous materials crossed the double yellow line, sideswiping two vehicles before colliding head-on with her car.
Anderson said he was in his home when he heard what sounded like an explosion and ran outside. He thought a truck had gone through the guard rail in a tight turn, but when he got next to the scene he saw the extent of the crash.
"When I went down to see if I could help the driver, I realized there was a car under the truck and I could hear the child crying," he said.
He couldn't get to Baldschun, but was able to remove the girl, who said her mother was in the car. He said he didn't think about much during those moments beyond getting the girl to safety. Baldschun was killed in the crash.
"I was just concentrating on the child," he said.
"The truck could have rolled over on top of him or some of the acid in that tank could have leaked out on him," Hyman said. "But he didn't think of himself. He took action and got that child out of the truck. And for that reason, we want to recognize his heroic actions here today."
Mallory Baldshun's husband, Peter Baldschun, was at the event on Wednesday. He declined to comment, but said he wanted to support Anderson.
Capt. Robert Thompson was one of the firefighters who responded to the scene because it was a major incident involving hazardous materials; he applauded Anderson's actions.
"That little girl was in a bad situation," he said. "It was time critical."
He said Anderson did what he could in the moment and stepped into the shoes of an emergency responder and he was glad to honor that effort.
"It's awesome that he thought and reacted to save a life," he said. "We know there are others who have done things like this, but we can't always connect with them, so it's good to recognize individuals like this when we can."
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731. Follow him on Twitter @emmettgienapp.