A Midway man has been awarded North America’s highest civilian honor for heroism Monday. David P. Duffey, 25, was a college student last fall driving through Irwin when he saw a tractor trailer in front of him veer off the highway, collide into a guide rail, concrete barrier, and overpass. Flames broke out during the wreck due to a fuel spill, while the cab of the truck was pointing towards the sky. Duffey was able to hoist himself into the cab through a broken window and rescue the 56-year-old truck driver to safety just before the vehicle exploded. Remarkably, no one was burned in the incident, while the driver was hospitalized and Duffey suffered a back injury. For his efforts, Duffey was awarded The Carnegie Medal given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. To date, the medal has been awarded to 10,387 individuals since the inception of the Pittsburgh-based fund in 1904. Each of the recipients or their survivors will receive a financial grant. Throughout the 119 years since Andrew Carnegie established the fund, nearly $45 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.