Richard Miller and his son Ian have often seen car accidents near their home by Bank Branch Creek, located off Route D and a couple miles from Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camden County.
"Every time we hear a crash, we always make sure no one is hurt," Richard said.
On Jan. 1, Richard and Ian's natural instinct to respond to a single-vehicle crash saved the lives of two of the car's occupants. As a result, Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Kyle A. Schrage, who investigated the incident, nominated the father and son for the Honorary Trooper Award. Both received this esteemed distinction at a special presentation Friday at the Camden County Sheriff's Department.
During Friday's award presentation, Schrage shared with attendees, including members of the Camden County Sheriff's Department, Highway Patrol and family and friends, Richard and Ian's lifesaving efforts during the incident.
At approximately 11 p.m. Jan. 1, a male driver lost control of his 1998 GMC Yukon on a snow covered roadway near Bank Branch Creek off Route D near Camdenton. The Yukon, also carrying a juvenile passenger, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the bridge railing. The vehicle then overturned and rolled down a steep embankment into Bank Branch Creek, coming to rest upright in the icy water, Schrage said.
"The National Weather Service determined the weather conditions to be 17 degrees, snowing and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour," he said.
Schrage said the water quickly rose and began flowing into the Yukon's windows. The occupants both sustained injuries during the collision and began to swim out a broken window. The driver later told Schrage he was unable to touch the bottom of the creek while swimming.
Ian was at his residence approximately a quarter mile away from the crash scene, Schrage said. Ian, who has served four years in the active U.S. Army and recently returned from service as an E-4, was placing wood on his fire when he heard the crash and screaming.
Schrage said Ian yelled to his father that he heard a crash and ran out the door toward the crash scene. Ian climbed down the icy and snow covered embankment, where he observed the occupants swimming from the Yukon toward the shore. Ian reached down and pulled the juvenile out of the water.
Schrage said Ian assisted the juvenile up the embankment, placed his coat over him, and instructed him to curl up in a ball to preserve his body heat. The juvenile had an injury to his face and was bleeding. Ian went back down the embankment and pulled the driver out of the water and assisted him up the embankment. The driver also had a visible injury to his face and was bleeding, Schrage said.
Richard grabbed sleeping bags and towels from his house, and then drove his truck, following Ian's footprints in the snow, to the crash scene. Schrage said Richard loaded the occupants up in the truck and took them back to his residence. Ian ran back to the house.
Richard commented the juvenile's pants were beginning to freeze by the time they got inside, Schrage said. Ian, Richard and Jackie Miller got the occupants dried off, taking the wet clothes off the juvenile and putting fresh dry clothes back on. They also called emergency personnel to the scene.
Schrage said because of the weather conditions, emergency personnel had a slow response time. Emergency vehicles nearly got stuck in the snow on the scene, and a snow plow was called to the scene in order to get the ambulance out. The ambulance transported the occupants to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, Schrage said.
"I spoke with the occupants, who both spontaneously commented the Millers saved their lives and expressed their immense gratefulness for their actions," Schrage said. "There is no doubt that the Millers' rapid and selfless actions prevented a potentially horrific outcome."
Lt. Darewin Clardy, in charge of Zone 11 within the Missouri Highway Patrol's Troop F, said the department gives out only one or two of these types of awards to civilians a year. Troopers who investigate a variety of incidents such as accidents, natural disasters or other emergencies can nominate civilians who showcase such lifesaving or preventive efforts, like the Millers.
"This is something we don't do very often. In our scope of things, it is a big deal," he said. "The Honorary Trooper certificate from us is probably the highest honor we can give a civilian. We feel like there are those occasional instances where individuals go well beyond what is expected of them and quite frankly put their own lives at risk to help another. That reflects what we expect of ourselves and identifies in what a great community should be centered around."
For Richard and Ian, they felt natural instinct and adrenaline kicked in to aid in someone's time of need.
"That adrenaline has a thrill of its own. Some people search for that adrenaline rush such as people that go out and skydive or rock climb," he said. "However, if more people could do the best they can to help other people out, it makes for a better community and could save a life."