A Gloucester man was recognized recently for racing to a burning vehicle, freeing the woman who was trapped inside, subsequently saving her life.

Mike Hedrick was formally presented a unanimous resolution and a Certificate of Valor before the Gloucester County Republican Committee, of which he is a member, during its meeting July 17 in the colonial courthouse. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) also attended the meeting and assisted in presenting the award to Hedrick.

According to the resolution, the incident occurred the morning of June 25 and involved an overturned pickup truck on Farys Mill Road near Ark. The vehicle caught fire with its occupant trapped inside.

Hedrick drove upon the burning vehicle, “and without thought to his own personal safety, ran to the burning vehicle and attempted to climb in to free the woman from the flames,” the resolution stated.

When he realized he could not free her, he instructed several bystanders to get some tools, which they used to bre...