Lakeside resident gets award for saving life
San Diego Union Tribune – San Diego,CA,USA
MISSION VALLEY: Carol Skiljan of Encinitas and Diana Pastora Carson of
Jamul have been honored by the Ninth District PTA for significant
contributions to …

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has awarded $4,000 to Robert Rex Miller of Lakeside for risking his life to save a man trapped in a burning car.

Miller, 46, a plumber, pulled Silvester O. Garcia, 31, from the burning wreckage April 29, 2005, after a multivehicle collision on Interstate 805 in Clairemont.

Miller grabbed a hammer and ran to Garcia’s car’s passenger door, smashed the window and leaned inside, even as his hair and clothing were being singed by the fire.

Miller cut Garcia’s seat belt and grabbed him, pulling him out through the window headfirst. Another man ran to help, and they pulled Garcia the rest of the way out of the car.

Garcia was taken to a hospital with burns and other injuries and has since recovered.

The bronze Carnegie medallion is awarded to civilians who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree to save or try to save others. Miller was honored yesterday at San Diego Fire Station No. 4.

Contributions to children bring women PTA honors

MISSION VALLEY: Carol Skiljan of Encinitas and Diana Pastora Carson of Jamul have been honored by the Ninth District PTA for significant contributions to children and families in the region.

Skiljan is executive director of Light for Life Foundation of Southern California, a youth suicide prevention organization. She also serves on the Encinitas Union School District board.

Pastora Carson is a teacher and activist for the disabled. She founded an annual ability awareness day at McMillin Elementary in Chula Vista, where she teaches. Pastora Carson trains parents and teachers how to teach students about disabilities.

The two received the PTA’s Honorary Service Award, which the organization bestowed at its annual Founder’s Day meeting in Mission Valley on Wednesday. The 90-year-old Ninth District PTA includes all of San Diego and Imperial counties.