BROOKSVILLE — A Bracken County man credited with saving the lives of several people during an August 2017 accident was recently named a recipient of the Carnegie Hero Medal.
The Carnegie Hero Medal is given to individuals in the United States and Canada who perform an extraordinary act of heroism in civilian life, according to Bracken County Judge-Executive Earl Bush.
“Carnegie Hero Fund commission was created to recognize outstanding acts of selfless heroism preformed in the US and Canada,” he said. “The medal is awarded to those who risk their lives in an extraordinary degree while attempting to save the lives of others. Today, we are here to honor and recognize Mr. Michael Chestnut.”
According to Bush, Chestnut, 59, of Bracken County, was awarded the medal because he saved the lives of three teenagers in 2017.
On Aug. 24, 2017, Chestnut came upon an accident near Eden Ridge Road in Foster, where a car and van had collided. The driver of the van had died and three teenagers were unconscious inside the car, which had caught on fire.
John Keuper III, Chance Augenstein and Maxwell R. Millbourn were all wearing seat belts inside the car. Chestnut immediately stopped his vehicle and began cutting the seat belts and pulling each boy to safety.
“He used a knife to cut the seat belts and he had to go back to his car to get another knife, because the first one broke,” Bush said. “He immediately pulled the second person out, who was about 100 pounds heavier than him and about a foot taller.”
According to Bush, Chestnut pulled all three boys out of the vehicle.
“He went back inside the vehicle to pull out the third person, which made the fourth time he went to the car.” Bush said. “Then, he went to get a chain from a neighbor and he dragged the car away from the van. He called 911 and had a fire extinguisher out to try to contain the fire until EMS responded.”
According to Bush, Chestnut had also just had surgery, but did not let that stop him from rescuing the boys.
“When I went into work the next day, I was told about what happened,” he said. “It was just an unreal act of heroism for someone to not only risk their live once, but multiple times to save someone else,” Bush said. “I had a notice in September that Mr. Chestnut was receiving the Carnegie Medal. Today, it is my honor and privilege to present this medal to Mr. Chestnut.”
Though Chestnut did not speak about receiving the medal, he did ask for Bush to speak to representatives at the state level about making the area of the accident a three-way stop.
“It’s a state highway, but that’s not a bad idea,” Bush said. “It’s a dangerous place where you’re at the top of a hill and a road is coming out.”
Bush said he will discuss the matter with the state.
