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The 'highest act of love': Uniontown man honored for saving crash victim's life
FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Danny Graham's heroic efforts nearly two months ago brought him special recognition by the Kansas Highway Patrol on Friday.
Members of the Fort Scott police and fire departments, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, and KHP joined several community members for an event in which Graham, of Uniontown, was presented with the Kansas Highway Patrol Honorary Trooper Award for his heroic actions after witnessing a two-vehicle crash at Kansas Highway 3 and Maple Road in Uniontown on Sept. 8.
The accident involving a semi flatbed truck and a General Public Transportation bus killed two area residents and left another injured.
KHP Col. Ernest Garcia said the event was a time to recognize Graham for his actions in saving the life of the accident's lone survivor, Joshua Holder, of Fort Scott, and to remember the two people killed in the crash, the bus driver, Sara McClure, of Fort Scott, and another passenger in the bus, Melony Beerbower, of Uniontown.
"This is a great event, but yet it's also a somber event," Garcia told the crowd of people who packed the Fort Scott City Commission office for the event.
Graham witnessed the fatal collision and after impact, he immediately entered the bus and located the lone survivor. Graham was forced to bend two handrails and then carry Holder, who suffered a broken leg during the crash leaving him unable to exit the bus, on his shoulder from the bus, which had become engulfed in flames and burned.
Garcia said Graham then checked on the other two occupants of the bus and found they were not responsive. He then drove to Union Station, a convenience store located near the crash site, and obtained a fire extinguisher to try to douse the fire. Local fire units then arrived to put out the blaze.
Garcia presented Graham with the award and said Graham told him he "didn't think he did anything out of the ordinary."
"I disagree," Garcia said. "This is the highest act of love and friendship that anyone can express."
Graham was present to give his thoughts on his brave actions.
"Even today I don't think I did anything out of the ordinary," he said. "The thought of injury never passed my mind. I don't think I did anything anyone in this room wouldn't have done."
After the presentation of the award, Holder and his wife, Monica, who were showing their emotions, thanked Graham and presented him with another plaque which Joshua read from.
"You've blessed many lives," Holder said.
Garcia said Graham's deeds are an example of the importance of local communities to the patrol.
"All of you are a critical part of what we do," he told attendees. "If you see something and can do something about it, you're helping us ... When you can, please do so."
Holder said he is thankful and indebted to Graham, and said Graham is the reason he is still alive today.
"It's a miracle I'm still here and that he was able to pull me out," he said. "I wouldn't have made it if he wouldn't have been there."
The event was organized by KHP Master Trooper Jeff Scott, who submitted Graham's name to be nominated for the Honorary Trooper Award along with a report containing all of the facts of the incident.
The accident occurred when the bus, which was southbound on K-3, attempted a left turn into Uniontown and turned in front of the semi. After the vehicles collided, the semi drove into the east ditch on K-3 and the bus was knocked into the west ditch and caught fire. Holder was flown by medical helicopter to Freeman Health Systems in Joplin.
The driver of the semi, David Buergin, 48, of McCune, was transported to Mercy Health Center where he was treated and released.
Agencies on the scene included KHP, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, Bourbon County District 3 fire departments, the Fort Scott Fire Department and Mercy EMS.