Lincoln Police Sergeant Tu Tran has been awarded a Carnegie Medal for rescuing a 27-year-old woman after he car ended up in a pond last February. The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
Tran is one of 18 civilians recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund recognized for their extraordinary acts of heroism. LPD says the woman was driving too fast for the weather conditions on Yankee Hill Road and failed to make a turn at Executive Woods Drive. There was freezing precipitation at the time and the wind chill was 4 above. The woman’s car went off the road and plunged into the water hazard at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course.
A passerby called 911 to report the car was sinking. Tran responded to the scene and saw the vehicle nearly submerged with only the rear driver’s window and trunk visible above the surface. Tran removed his equipment and jumped into the frigid water.
After swimming to the vehicle, Tran found only the trunk visible. He opened an unlocked rear door and was able to feel a leg as he reached inside the vehicle. He pulled the woman out before the car completely sank and got her to shore.
After the incident, Tran went home, changed into a dry uniform and continued his shift.
