News : Garrison Firefighter Eric Kakac with his Certificate of Life-Saving Commendation

Garrison Firefighter Eric Kakac was honored for saving a life after a car accident in 2009.

Garrison Firefighter Eric Kakac has received a Certificate of Commendation for Lifesaving Actions from Governor Culver and Public Safety Commissioner Eugene T. Meyer.

Kakac received the award for his action during the afternoon of October 8, 2009, when firefighter Kakac was at his parents’ home in rural Garrison. He heard the sound of a collision at an intersection of gravel roads approximately ½ mile south of the residence.

Firefighter Kakac went to the scene of the accident and found a two vehicle collision, one of the vehicles was a SUV resting on its side in a ditch and on fire. There were three passengers in the vehicle, Jennifer Engler, 40, of Garrison and two of her children; Hallie age 10 and John, age 6. Jennifer and Hallie were already out of the car but John was trapped inside along with one of the family's dogs. The collision was so fierce that the two people in the other vehicle were killed instantly.

Firefighter Kakac phoned the emergency into the Benton County Dispatch Center then proceeded to extinguish the fire by beating it out with his sweatshirt. GFD members would later determine that the fire was caused by transmission oil leaking onto the hot exhaust pipe.

John and the family dog were safely extricated by the Garrison Fire Department.

"I am positive that if it were not for Firefighter Kakac’s efforts, John Engler and the family dog would have been fire fatalities," said Garrison fire Chief Steve Meyer.