A selfless act of bravery that saved the life of a man trapped inside a burning vehicle has brought praise for Darren Coogan, a former Orangeville resident, from the City of Vaughan and the Sikh community in Toronto, for his act of heroism.

Orangeville resident Thomas Coogan is proud of his son and says Darren doesn’t believe he is a hero, even as he was being presented with a Civilian Citation by Vaughan’s Fire Chief Greg Senay last Monday.

“He says he was simply in the right place at the right time and did what needed doing,” Mr. Coogan said.

While travelling on the Highway 407 toll road to work from his current home in Milton on Nov. 11, Darren stopped after witnessing a cube-van hit a deer, then a pole, and crash into the ditch

He acted quickly, rescuing the trapped driver and lone-occupant, Satwinder Bajwa of Milton, by breaking the window with his right elbow after the van caught fire. He dragged Mr. Bajwa to safety as the van became engulfed in flames moments later.

The Bajwa vehicle was used as a mobile repair unit for transport trucks and was carrying flammable liquid and chemicals.

Mr. Bajwa suffered a fractured pelvis, cuts and bruises and required a hospital stay at the William Osler Health Centre in Etobicoke. He was released from hospital and able to attend the recent citation ceremony honouring his rescuer at City Hall in Vaughan.

Mr. Coogan has also been offered six months of free travel on the ETR 407.