Eight members of a local Army Reserve unit who helped save a woman after a serious car accident during a Memorial Day celebration in Bristol, Conn., have been honored by that city.

First Lt. Peter Torromeo of the 368th Engineer Battalion of Londonderry said they were standing in the parking lot of an American Legion post May 24 when a woman was cut off by another vehicle. She flipped her car multiple times and crashed into a telephone pole.

Torromeo and seven other soldiers rushed to the scene, where they helped get the woman out of the car and stabilized her until emergency responders arrived.

"We just went into action and did our part," Torromeo said yesterday.

Four of the soldiers with Torromeo were medics and firefighters so they helped her from the vehicle once they realized her injuries weren't life-threatening.

Sgt. James McLaughlin, an Army firefighter, said the wires from the broken utility pole were on the woman's vehicle and they had to pry the doors open to free her.

Torromeo said he helped direct traffic and control crowds in the area until police arrived.

Luckily, the woman was wearing a seat belt when she crashed.

"That pretty much saved her life," Torromeo said.

Bristol Mayor Art Ward said yesterday he was standing with some of the soldiers when they went to help the woman.

"In a split second, they were gone," Ward said. "They all knew their responsibilities."

Last week, the eight soldiers traveled to Connecticut, where they were given keys to the city and a proclamation from Ward thanking them for their help.

"It's an example of our soldiers every day," Ward said.

This summer was the fourth time the Londonderry reserve unit has gone to the four-day celebration in Connecticut. Each year, the ceremony is bigger and Torromeo said the city blocks off one street through the city where each of the branches of the military are honored.

This year, they brought nine pieces of military equipment, including a firetruck.

In addition to Torromeo and McLaughlin, those honored were Spc. Brett Haynes, Spc. Christopher Elliott, Spc. James Dixon, Spc. Christine Bashor, Spc. Kurtis Haberman and Spc. Natasha Cunningham. Haberman was not present at last week's ceremony because he is on active duty.

Cunningham, McLaughlin, Elliott and Haynes serve in Danvers, although they are members of the 368th Engineer Battalion of Londonderry.

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