Two men were recently recognized for their livesaving efforts by the Spokane Valley Fire Department. They are pictured here along with the Engine 7 crew that responded to the call. Pictured from left to right are Firefighter Holin Honeyfield, Cpt. Tim Cruger, Paramedic Rich Bruce, Steve Stermer, Heith Carlton and Fire Chief Mike Thompson. The photo is courtesy of the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

At yesterday's Spokane Valley Fire Commissioners meeting Outstanding Citizen awards were given to two men who stopped and gave life saving treatment to a hit and run victim in the early morning hours of Jan. 1. A Spokane Valley Police Department press release identified the victim as Cody Washburn, 18. He was hit by a car on Fourth between Adams and Progress while walking home and was left in the street.

The two men, Steve Stermer and Heith Carlton, found Washburn lying in the street and called 911. They used their coats to cover him until firefighters from Station 7 arrived to treat him. Washburn suffered a broken back and severe hypothermia. Paramedic Rich Bruce nominated the two for the award. "I firmly believe their actions saved a young man's life," Bruce wrote in his nomination.

The driver in the crash left a license plate at the scene of the accident and was later arrested and charged with felony hit and run.

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