Deputies Honored for Saving Teen's Life

By Jami Brinton, Reporter

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By Jami Brinton

Story Created: Jun 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM CST

IOWA CITY - Dramatic video released today shows how two Johnson County sheriff's deputies risked their lives to help rescue a high school student from a fiery crash that killed a classmate earlier this year.

The heroic actions of the two deputies saved one student's life.

But that same crash in March did kill Clear Creek Amana high school senior Lisa Adams of Oxford.

Early morning on March 14, Johnson County Deputy Pete Ungaro races to the scene of a car crash.

"It seemed to take like forever to get there," said Ungaro.

Shortly after arriving on scene, Ungaro noticed Deputy Phil Schintler fighting flames to pull someone out of the burning car.

"He was seatbelted in but was pinned between the two bucket seats in the back seat on the floor board," explained Schintler. "Could hardly see him."

The deputies worked feverishly to get 18 year old Joseph, also known as JD, Widmer out of the car.

"I had gone in and cut seat belts and pulled JD out of the vehicle," said Schintler.

This afternoon, JD watched what happened that night with his family and the two men who saved his life, during a special ceremony honoring the quick-thinking actions of the the deputies.

"I'm really glad they were there on time," said JD Widmer. "I know they were just doing their job but it was a very heroic act."

"We're just so thankful he's okay," said Janet Widmer. "A walking miracle. He absolutely is."

The deputies say they were just doing their job, but to JD and his family, their actions mean a whole lot more.

"Ya, good to be alive," said JD.

The two deputies received the life-saving award which no one in the Johnson County Sheriff's Department has received in recent decades.

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