Citizens receive lifesaving awards

Normal Fire Department honored two citizens that came to the rescue during a serious motorcycle accident at the interchange from Interstate 55 to Interstate 39 in late July 2017.

On July 21, 2017, Normal Fire Department responded to the report of a motorcycle accident with injuries at the interchange ramp of Interstate 55 and Interstate 39. Numerous calls reported that the motorcycle had left the roadway and was on fire.

Passersby Samantha Seggerman of El Paso, and Kevin Monge of Roanoke, witnessed the motorcycle crash and immediately stopped and rendered aid to the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and was awake, but was pinned under his motorcycle. Seggerman and Monge were able to free him from under the motorcycle and moved him to safety just moments before the motorcycle caught fire. When the fire started, they again moved him further from the crash site so he would be safe until our ambulance and fire units arrived.

The first arriving unit was Assistant Chief Mike Morrison who happened to be in the area and responded. When he arrived, he described the motorcycle as “fully involved in fire”. An engine and ambulance arrived moments later and put the fire out and treated and transported the motorcyclist to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He has since recovered from the crash.