Bellmore Man Honored By Hempstead Town For Heroic Act

Before its meeting today, the Hempstead Town Board honored residents who went above and beyond by saving the lives of their neighbors.

Prior to the meeting, these community heroes were hailed for their actions: Hempstead Town employee and Bellmore resident Drew Hanson; and a team of first responders from Lynbrook and Baldwin.

“Everyday heroes live among us,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “It could be anyone, a next-door neighbor, a local business owner or in today’s case, a co-worker and a group of brave first responders. Unfortunately, we don’t always hear the stories of people of everyday heroes, but today is our lucky day.”

According to Clavin, Hanson was heading into work on Dec. 21 when he witnessed a car crash in Hempstead near Town Hall. He immediately pulled his vehicle over and ran over to the car involved in the crash. The car was being driven by a mother, who had her two children with her. The airbags were all deployed and the car was smoking. Hanson acted quickly and pulled the doors open. He picked the kids up out of the vehicle and brought them to the sidewalk as he went back for their mother and brought the family back to safety until first responders made it to the scene.

The town also presented official citations to a team of first responders, including Lynbrook police officers and members of the Lynbrook Fire Department, as well as a member of the Baldwin Fire Department.

On Nov. 27, a sedan rear-ended a stopped box truck, which caused a car to catch fire and the driver to go unconscious and become trapped in her vehicle. The first responders on the scene managed to save the driver's life, and she's currently recovering from her injuries. The honorees are Lynbrook police officers Derek Buonora, John Stawinski and Peter Festa, Baldwin Fire Department’s Jimmy Martinez and Ex-Captain Tracey Burke LaBarbara and EMT Katie DuBoise of the Lynbrook Fire Department.

“Our first responders in the Town of Hempstead are ready to respond to protect their communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Clavin said. “We thank all members of the community who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect their fellow neighbors.”