Recognition was given to one area trooper for his efforts to rescue a woman who drove into floodwaters last fall.

15 Missouri State Highway Patrol employees were honored at the Patrol’s annual awards and MASTERS banquet this past weekend.

Among those honored was Sgt. Michael P. Quilty with Troop H.

On Sept. 9, 2014 heavy rainfall in Holt County resulted in flash flooding. According to MSHP Quilty was contacted and dispatched to the area. Quilty and Missouri Department of Conservation Agents Anthony Maupin and Jade Wright rescued a woman who had driven into floodwaters on Missouri Route N, north of Mound City. The floodwaters had washed her vehicle off the roadway. Using a Department of Conservation boat, the trio made their way to the woman and rescued her. During that rescue, Quilty received information regarding flooding over both lanes of Interstate 29 from the 86-mile marker to the 88-mile marker. Several vehicles were in the water and all of those vehicles contained occupants. Learning this, Quilty and the agents cleared the scene of the first rescue and responded to Interstate 29.

Upon arriving at the scene on Interstate 29, Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Eric Abbott determined the water was flowing too swiftly to deploy a boat.  Quilty, Agent Maupin, and Agent Wright were able to utilize a front-end loader and motor grader operated by Missouri Department of Transportation employees.  Quilty and Wright stood in the bucket of the front-end loader as it maneuvered through the floodwaters. They successfully rescued five civilians. The water flowing over the interstate was approximately three feet deep. Rescuers made two additional trips to rescue the remaining two civilians trapped by the floodwaters. There were no injuries to any of the rescuers and none of the victims required medical attention.

Quilty was given the 2014 Lifesaving Award.

The MSHP commended him for his quick response and innovative thinking. The patrol said his courage and training helped him save eight lives in an extremely dangerous situation.