A western Wisconsin police officer is being honored for his heroism in a vain attempt to save a woman whose vehicle struck a home in Prescott, Wis., that led to a natural gas explosion.
Wisconsin cop's vain attempt to save woman from explosion earns him 'hero' status
December 21, 2007 at 3:57PM
Benjamin S. Henrich, 28, of River Falls, is among 21 individuals from the United States and Canada whom the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced Thursday as recipients of the Carnegie Medal.
The medal recognizes those who "risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others." The award comes with a grant of $5,000.
The fund, in announcing the awards, gave this account of Henrich's actions on that Saturday night in Prescott:
Henrich attempted to save Lisa N. Villigan, 39, from an impending explosion on the night of Feb. 17.
She was behind the wheel of her pickup truck after it left the road and crashed into a one-story house, cutting the natural gas line.
Henrich responded to the scene and approached the pickup's passenger and tried to get Villigan's attention. He got no reply.
Henrich then went around to the driver's side window, which was broken. Moments later, an explosion set the house and truck on fire, throwing Henrich at least 15 feet. Henrich suffered minor burns to his face, and cuts and bruises to his hands and face.
The blast killed Villigan, of Prescott. Tests showed later that she was drunk when she drove her pickup into the home.
At a news conference four days after the explosion, Henrich said he believed the blast was ignited when Villigan tried to restart the pickup.
"At first, it was slow motion," he said. "Then, everything was hitting me. Then, it was black."
He was spared his life, he believes, because he was facing toward the truck, not the house.
Reflecting on his survival, Henrich said, "People talk about miracles. It really wasn't my time to go. I wasn't supposed to die there."
In an interview two days after the incident, Acting Police Chief Mike Bondarenko said, "In my opinion, and in the opinion of a lot of people, officer Henrich is a hero. He risked his life."
The heroes announced Thursday bring to 98 the number of awards made in 2007 and to 9,151 since the Pittsburgh-based Fund's inception in 1904. Throughout the 103 years since the fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $30.1 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
The returns were filed on behalf of themselves and others, according to federal prosecutors.
