San Antonio man wins national award for heroism after pulling woman from burning vehicle

A San Antonio man received the Carnegie Medal, the highest honor for civilian heroism in the United States, for rescuing a woman from a burning vehicle.

Sgt. Kenneth Hamilton, an off-duty St. Mary’s University police officer, pulled Tammy Cook from her car seconds before the vehicle exploded. Cook’s sedan had rolled over after hitting a guardrail on the Northwest Side on May 1, 2019.

Hamilton was one of 17 Americans and one Canadian named Carnegie heroes Tuesday for entering into mortal danger to rescue others. Each of the awardees or their survivors will receive a financial grant.

The other nominees include Victor Mozqueda, who — despite not knowing how to swim — entered a swift river after his friend’s 5-year-old son fell in. The boy was saved, but Mozqueda drowned.

Shortly after 3 a.m. on May 1, Cook’s car overturned on its passenger side and fire broke out in the engine. She was held in her seat by the seat belt and could not leave the car.

READ MORE: Off-duty officer saves woman from burning vehicle on NW side

Andrew Jazbani and Eric Galy passed the car lying on its side, then turned around and frantically tried to free Cook.

That’s when Hamilton, on his way home from work, “miraculously showed up,” Jazbani told mySanAntonio.com at the time.

He attempted to smash through the windshield with his baton but the glass would not break. Jazbani threw a piece of concrete at the windshield several times, before Hamilton kicked it in and pulled it out.

Hamilton told the others to get out of the way, then pulled Cook out.

“Literally right after the police officer pulled her out, like 10 to 20 seconds, the car blew up,” Jazbani said.

Other first responders arrived as the car was engulfed in flames. Paramedics took the woman to University Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Hamilton was treated for a strained shoulder as well as cuts and scrapes, according to the Carnegie Medal news release.