Kentucky man who pulled Arizona driver from burning truck awarded Carnegie Medal for heroism

PHOENIX — A Kentucky man was awarded the Carnegie Medal after he rescued a 62-year-old truck driver who was stuck inside a burning tractor trailer in Arizona earlier this year.

William Anthony Rubio, 37, saved the life of truck driver Edward Moorehead in January, according to a Monday announcement from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Named for steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Medal is awarded by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission to civilians in the U.S. and Canada who risk their lives to save others. It’s regarded as North America’s highest civilian honor for heroism.

Carnegie Medal winner rescued man from burning tractor trailer

On the morning of Jan. 13, Moorehead was left trapped by the steering wheel of his burning vehicle on the shoulder of a highway after a collision near Bagdad, a small town in Yavapai County.

Rubio, who is one of 17 recipients this year, was driving when he saw the burning tractor-trailer on the opposite side of the highway and stopped. At that point, the flames reached six feet high and were burning Moorehead’s feet inside the cab.

Rubio crossed the dirt median, tried opening the driver’s door, then climbed onto the engine and punched through the cracked windshield. Leaning in waist-deep, he pulled Moorehead out from under the steering wheel and out of the vehicle.

Disoriented, Moorehead stepped in the way of an oncoming vehicle, but Rubio saved his life a second time by pulling him to safety.

Rubio guided Moorehead to the median, then brought him to his car to wait for first responders.

About 15 seconds after they left the burning vehicle, an explosion erupted and the flames burning the tractor-trailer intensified.

The fire left Moorehead with abrasions to both knees, a head injury and a laceration on his thigh. During the rescue, Rubio had inhaled smoke but did not require medical treatment.

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