From left are fireman Jon Simon, Adams County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bryce Kuclehan, Wawasee High School student Jeb Richey and Decatur Fire Chief Les Marckel. Richey was presented a Citizens Service Award by first responders during the Decatur City Council meeting Tuesday, March 3.

DECATUR — A 16-year-old Wawasee High School student was recognized for his heroic actions after a fiery car crash last summer.

The crash happened Aug. 3. Several cars were involved and it was Jeb Richey who saved the life of a woman before first responders arrived.

Richey, a sophomore at Wawasee High School, flies planes. His mom, Anne Richey, took video of his first solo flight this past summer.

The accident happened just days after his first solo flight. It was a fiery crash on US 27 in Adams County.

The car Jeb was in screeched to a halt to avoid a vehicle stopped in the left lane. Another driver, Melissa Garman, could not stop in time. Her car hit Jeb’s car and then burst into flames, causing both cars to catch on fire.

Jeb immediately left the car he was riding in with his mother, ran around it and was able to pull Garman out of her car before first responders arrived and before the car exploded.

According to the accident report, four cars were involved, five people were injured and no one died — something Garman said is because of Jeb.

He said he can remember wanting her family to be able to see her not burned beyond recognition, even if that meant she were to die.

Despite not remembering the accident, Garman was able to find Jeb. She wrote him a letter asking to meet. They met about a month after the accident at a Fort Wayne restaurant where they had dinner together.

Jeb was recognized for his heroism Tuesday, March 3, by Adams County prosecutor Jeremy Brown with a certificate of recognition at the Decatur City Council meeting. Jeb also received a Citizens Service Award from first responders.

Seven months after the accident, Garman is recovering physically and emotionally. Her arm and hand were burned, she had a fractured sternum, a concussion, and was in ICU for nearly 24 hours after the accident — but she is alive because of Jeb.

While Garman’s life is proof of Jeb’s heroics, he doesn’t want the recognition. He said in a telephone interview while on his way to Decatur Tuesday that he doesn’t remember anything in particular about the accident except the driver stopped in the left lane.

The woman who police say caused the accident — who stopped her vehicle in the middle of the left lane on a highway — was sentenced in court March 3 with reckless driving and a learner’s permit violation.