The Neenah Police Department presented a life-saving award to Tanner Ader at the March 5 Common Council meeting for his actions at a Jan. 20 crash on the 1300 block of Gillingham Road.

Neenah Police Chief Olsen described the incident: a single-vehicle crash where the car struck a fire hydrant, went down an embankment, hit a tree and came to rest on its side. "By that time, the vehicle was on fire," Olsen said. He said Ader obtained a fire extinguisher, extinguished flames and, with the assistance of a Winnebago County deputy, helped extract the driver and a passenger. "Tanner's quick response and use of a fire extinguisher undoubtedly extended the time available to extract the occupants of the vehicle, thus saving their lives," Olsen said.

Ader, who was in the vicinity when the crash occurred, told the council he acted because he "didn't really know these people at the time, but that didn't matter. I just was there glad that I was there to help them and save their life." Council members and attendees praised his actions; Chief Olsen called it "one of the most heroic things that I've seen from a citizen do." The city presented Ader with a life-saving award and a department challenge coin.

The presentation was ceremonial; no council action was required. The police department noted extreme cold and hazardous winter driving conditions on the night of the crash.