Fort Drum soldier saves lives in fiery bus crash (UPDATED)

| July 22, 2011

Details are still sketchy, but apparently, a Fort Drum soldier, as yet unnamed, is being credited with saving countless lives in a fiery bus crash in Upstate New York, according to a Watertown, NY TV station;

WSTM TV in Syracuse reports that a soldier from Fort Drum pulled passengers from a burning bus on the state Thruway.

The bus caught fire in a crash near the Waterloo exit. (Point of reference: that’s the exit for the popular Waterloo outlet mall.) A tractor trailer reportedly hit the rear of a bus, injuring at least 20 people.

From CBS News;

State police said a U.S. soldier from New York’s Fort Drum who came upon the scene pulled some people from the burning bus.

From a Syracuse TV Station;

The accident happened around 1:30 Friday morning in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 near the Waterloo Premium Outlets and the Junius Ponds service area. Troopers say the bus burst into flames after being hit. A soldier stationed at Fort Drum who was traveling on the Thruway at the time is credited with helping to get a number of people off of the burning bus. The soldier’s name and rank have not been released at this point.

Sounds like a Soldier’s Medal is warranted.

UPDATED: Watertown’s Fox 28 identifies the soldier;

State police have identified a soldier from Fort Drum who pulled people from a burning bus on the state Thruway overnight.

He is 28 year old Sergeant Jacob Perkins of the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment.

“A couple of witnesses who rendered help – one notable witness is a soldier from Fort Drum. His name is Jacob Perkins. He’s a sergeant. He’s an E-5…He was able to get a few of the passengers off that bus safely,” said State Police Major Mark Koss.

From Syracuse WSYR;

Perkins is a member of the 189th Calvary and his entire brigade went on leave Thursday. He was reportedly driving to the airport when he pulled over at the crash scene.

After speaking with rescue teams when they arrived on scene, Perkins continued driving to the airport.

Category: Military issues

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Frankly Opinionated

Amen on the soldier’s medal.

RJG3

U know it. This SGT deserves the Soldier’s Medal.

streetsweeper

Roger that!

Jon The Mechanic

Just a quick correction on his unit. It is 1/89 Cav, a member of the 2nd BCT. Here is there unit page from the Ft Drum website.

http://www.drum.army.mil/2ndBCT/Pages/1-89Cavalry.aspx

kay

Does not surprise me that a service member would stop to assist. God bless and protect him. God Bless and protect all our military. Thank you Sgt for your service.

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[…] the bus loads October 13th, 2012 In the Huffington Post, they tell us that SGT Jacob Perkins, who we first discussed last July, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal and named “Soldier of the Year” for his actions […]