2004 Awards Ceremony
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Mr. Robert Varnado Exceptional Bravery for Citizens Award In March 2004, a single-vehicle crash occurred in Washington Parish. Mr. Robert Varnado, one of the first to drive up to the scene, saw that the vehicle was smoking heavily and the injured passenger was not getting out of the vehicle. The passenger, Mr. Victor Jones, Sr., was trapped in the vehicle as a result of the crash. Mr. Varnado first attempted to kick in the windshield, without success. He then retrieved a large tree limb and, along with the driver, broke the windshield. They were then able to pull the passenger from the vehicle as it burst into flames. Trooper Chris McClelland investigated the crash, and wrote, "Without the efforts of this citizen, Mr. Victor Jones, Sr. would not have survived this crash." Severe hip and leg injuries sustained in the crash prevented Mr. Jones from freeing himself from the wreckage.