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Local life-savers honored

Colleen Johnson, executive director for the Southwest Colorado chapter of the American Red Cross, greets La Plata County Sheriff Deputy Luke Harrington, who was awarded for saving the life of his father this past year.

Give them your injured, your weak and your dying. La Plata County’s uniformed and un-uniformed heroes continue to humbly aid neighbors in dire need.

On Wednesday morning, the Southwest Colorado chapter of the American Red Cross followed its tradition of recognizing a handful of 2013 law-enforcement and civilian heroes at the annual Southwest Colorado Breakfast of Champions.

Among the award recipients, casually eating their scrambled eggs, bacon and green chile, were La Plata County Sheriff’s Deputy Luke Harrington; officer Brian Weiss, Sgt. Dominic Vasquez and Sgt. Alford Hanna of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Detention Center; and Bayfield resident Scott Key.

Sgt. Ben Sleger with the Colorado State Patrol recognized Key for saving the life of an Ignacio woman after a car accident in May on U.S. Highway 160. Rachel Alires drove into a traffic-signal pole at Three Springs Boulevard, and her car immediately ignited. Key unbuckled Alires’ seat belt and extracted her from the blazing car to a safe distance. He then returned to the scene for the passenger, Leah Tsosie, and began administering CPR. Despite his efforts, she was pronounced dead at Mercy Regional Medical Center. Alires survived.

Sleger commended Key for his selfless act and for not being a bystander. He was awarded the Certificate of Honor, the highest merit the State Patrol can bestow upon a citizen, in February.

“I don’t really feel like a hero,” Key said. “I was just doing my civic duty.”

If he were in a similar situation, he would hope that someone would have done the same for him, he said.

Luke Harrington saved his own father’s life after a horseback-riding accident by administering CPR on him. Jim Harrington had suffered chest and head trauma, and his son carefully carried him to his truck. Jim Harrington was taken to Mercy and transferred to a facility in Denver where he received intensive care. Emergency-room staff credited Luke Harrington for saving his father’s life because of his swift actions and first-responder training, Schirard said.

Chris Mimmack, with the Southern Ute Detention Center, honored three of his colleagues for their rapid response in saving an inmate’s life. The inmate attempted suicide by tying a ligature around his neck. Surveillance footage showed the ligature was removed by officers within three to five seconds, Mimmack said. Weiss, Vasquez and Hanna were recognized for their efforts, which included twice administering CPR.

Colleen Johnson, named executive director for the local Red Cross in March, emceed the event.

Community members, she said, have the responsibility to not just stand by when others are in need. Johnson, a Michigan native, also expressed her excitement to head the organization in Southwest Colorado.

“I just feel so honored to now call Durango my home,” she said. “I’ve received a warm welcome.”

vguthrie@durangoherald.com



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