Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 25, 1998
• Invested on: May 10, 1999

On June 24, 1997, Leo Pelletier extracted the driver from a burning tandem dump truck in North Vancouver, British Columbia. When its brakes failed, the truck, loaded with wet clay mix, struck a concrete barrier, then a tree, ignited and rolled on its side. Mr. Pelletier was in a nearby building and heard the crash followed by horrible screams. He immediately raced to the scene and found the driver pinned inside the truck with diesel fuel spraying into the air and smoke pouring from the cab. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mr. Pelletier leaned inside the vehicle and pulled the victim's arm but could not free him. Despite the rapidly advancing flames and the intensity of the heat, he reached under the man to free his other arm and, bit by bit, managed to drag him from the wreck where others provided assistance. Both Mr. Pelletier and the victim suffered burns during this ordeal.