President Barack Obama recently awarded Los Angeles Police Department officer Donald Thompson with the Medal of Valor for an incident in December 2013.

On December 25, 2013 at approximately 2 p.m., Thompson was headed to work on the southbound side of the San Diego (405) Freeway, south of the Ventura (101) Freeway. He saw a vehicle on the northbound side of the 405 Freeway crash into the center divider and immediately catch fire.

Thompson stopped his vehicle and ran to the aid of the driver who was unconscious and trapped in his vehicle. As the vehicle continued to fill with smoke and flames engulfed the front seat, Thompson cut the driver’s seatbelt and freed the man. Thompson and two civilians pulled the driver from the vehicle.

Thompson was one of 13 public safety officers from throughout the country who was awarded the Medal of Valor.