Two Windsor men awarded medals of bravery

Pair pulled woman from vehicle prior to small explosion

Fire erupted under the hood of the car, gasoline was pooling underneath it and the driver, in shock, wasn’t moving.

“Time was of the essence, obviously. That’s what I was thinking,” remembered Cpl. Matthew Lepain.

Lepain and Master Cpl. Alexander Zawyrucha of the Windsor Regiment were driving a military truck on Ojibway Parkway on Aug. 12, 2015, testing it before an exercise at the base in Petawawa, when they heard what sounded like a crash. A car and an SUV had collided behind them, at the intersection with E. C. Row Expressway.

They pulled over, jumped out and ran to the first vehicle, the SUV. The driver and passenger had already gotten out. The two soldiers ran to the second vehicle, the car, which had begun rolling backwards. Zawyrucha planted himself behind the car to stop it and steady it. Lepain reached in to help the driver, an older woman.

“She was in shock, obviously,” said Lepain. “She looked very shaken. We were trying to talk to her and help her get out.” But the seatbelt held her fast. Zawyrucha ran around to the driver’s side to help Lepain.

“It was then we noticed the fire starting under the hood and the gas leaking under,” Lepain said.

“We got her out as fast as possible, got her to the side of the road and heard a small explosion under the hood. Then the whole car was engulfed in flames. It was in the span of minutes.”

There were “nerves and a lot of adrenalin,” he said. “But I followed my military training — keep a clear mind and do our job. After, you’re thankful everybody is OK. You’re proud you were able to do your job. You don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t there.”

Lepain and Zawyrucha were awarded a Medal of Bravery for the rescue by Governor General Julie Payette in a ceremony at Rideau Hall Thursday. They never expected to receive an award, said Lepain, a 20-year-old University of Windsor music student and reservist. The woman, who wasn’t seriously injured, thanked them and emergency personnel took over.

We got her out as fast as possible, got her to the side of the road and heard a small explosion under the hood.

SGT JOHANIE MAHEU Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette presents the Medal of Bravery to Master Cpl. Alexander Zawyrucha, left, and Cpl Matthew Thomas Lepain of the Windsor Regiment, for their efforts in saving a woman from a car.