A Neenah resident has been honored by the city for his life-saving actions earlier this year.
30-year-old Tanner Ater was awarded the Life Saving Award by Neenah Police Chief Aaron Olson at this week’s Neenah City Council meeting.
He received the honor after acting quickly to save the occupants of a vehicle that had caught fire after a violent car accident.
The crash took place on January 20th in the 1300 block of Gillingham Road.
The driver lost control of their vehicle, hit a fire hydrant, went down an embankment, and struck a tree before spinning violently and coming to a rest on the vehicle’s passenger side.
Ater heard the crash and rushed outside with a fire extinguisher and worked on putting out the fire.
Then, with the help of the first responding Deputy from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, he climbed on top of the vehicle and was able to help the driver from the car as the engine compartment fire reignited.
While both occupants of the vehicle suffered significant injuries, both survived thanks to the heroic efforts of Ater and law enforcement.
