EDMONTON — A southern Alberta man who saved the lives of four young people by deliberately driving his Hummer into the path of another vehicle has been given an award for bravery.
Darrell Krushelnicki of Taber was among 26 people who received recognition Monday from the Royal Canadian Humane Association.
Back in August, Krushelnicki was leaving a parking lot when he noticed a driver talking on his cellphone and speeding toward a crosswalk where three teenagers and a toddler were crossing.
Krushelnicki pulled out in front of the car and collided with it in a successful effort to prevent the car from hitting the children.
Two of the teens attended Monday’s ceremony and hugged Krushelnicki as they were reunited outside the event.
Edmonton police chief Rod Knecht said Krushelnicki drew upon his “inner strength of character” to save the children.
“It’s amazing what he did,” Janice Marett, one of the teens who was saved, said Monday. “You don’t come across that every day.”
Her friend, Kyle McInnes, said Krushelnicki definitely deserved the award “for him to go out and put his life at risk ... for four kids that he doesn’t know.”
The father of two was humble about his recognition.
“Anybody in that situation, when you kind of realize what could happen, would do that,” he said. “I don’t really want to be in that situation, but I would do it again.”
The 23-year-old man was charged with dangerous driving in the incident.