Barstow, CA native, Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Nathan Burnau was driving north on I-295 at approximately 7:30 a.m. when he witnessed the vehicle lose control, strike a guardrail, and come to rest overturned near the Malcolm X Avenue exit.
Burnau stopped his vehicle and ran toward the crash. As he approached, he saw that a minor had been ejected from the vehicle and that the overturned car had caught fire.
After confirming the youth was responsive and did not require immediate life-saving intervention, Burnau turned his attention to the burning vehicle, where a woman remained trapped.
“The flames were making their way through the console into the vehicle and starting to catch the front passenger area,” Burnau said. “After seeing that, I crawled into the vehicle to get her free.”
Burnau freed the partially unconscious woman and maneuvered her through the vehicle toward an opening at the rear. Assisted by another civilian and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Anthony Roman, assigned to Portfolio Acquisition Executive Strategic Systems Programs, Burnau pulled her clear of the wreckage as Roman used a fire extinguisher to help suppress the flames.
Burnau, Roman and the other bystanders remained with the victims until firefighters and police arrived and assumed control of the scene.
“Petty Officer Burnau’s quick response and willingness to put himself in danger to rescue a trapped motorist reflect the highest standards of the Navy’s core values,” said Capt. Garret Houston, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Washington. “His brave actions prevented a bad situation from becoming fatal, and we are proud to have him as part of the NSA Washington team.”
After emergency responders took over the scene, Burnau resumed his morning commute and reported to work.