A Yukon man was presented with an award for bravery on Saturday, while another Yukoner was given a similar honour in absentia.

Tyson Dusselier was on hand at Commissioner Adeline Webber’s levee to receive a Commissioner Award for Bravery.

“On Aug. 27, 2023, Tyson was the first person at the scene of a motor vehicle collision on the Alaska Highway (in Whitehorse),” MC Mike Fancie told the audience.

“Tyson, by all accounts, put his life in danger in order to rescue one of the drivers.”

Dusselier also recruited other drivers to help search the scene for other survivors who had been ejected from the vehicles involved, Fancie said.

Wayne Smith, a fire investigator with Whitehorse Fire and Protective Services, nominated Dusselier for the award.

In a prepared statement, Smith wrote, “At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 27th, a head-on collision between a Dodge pickup truck and Ford Explorer occurred on the Alaska Highway in the Crestview area.

“This accident claimed the lives of two men, Kodi Rousseau, 27, and Darrell Schultz, 51. There were no passengers in either vehicle.”

First responders found both drivers inside their vehicles upon arrival.

“However, through this tragic set of circumstances, one man came to the attention of investigators; one man who stood out, who without fear or consideration for his own safety, took quick action to do all that he possibly could in order to save the lives of these two men,” Smith said.

“We are gathered here today to pay tribute to and acknowledge the actions of this one man, Tyson Dusselier, who, through his actions at this accident scene, needs to be recognized and commended for his courage and quick action despite the obvious threats to his own safety.”

Dusselier and his girlfriend were on the Alaska Highway that morning and witnessed the collision.

While his girlfriend called 911, Dusselier started running toward the accident scene.

“He could see that a small fire had begun under the passenger side of the engine compartment of the Explorer and he went to this vehicle first,” Smith said.

“When he looked inside the passenger compartment, he could see that the driver, Darrell Schultz, was still in the driver’s seat and he immediately ran to the driver’s side; however, due to the extreme amount of damage from the collision, the driver’s door could not be opened,” Smith said.

“He ran back to the passenger side of the vehicle and was able to open the front passenger door. He could now see that gasoline was leaking onto the highway from the engine compartment and the fire was now growing inside the engine area,” Smith told the levee audience.

“He climbed into the front seat area and found that Schultz was still alive but unable to speak.”

Smith added, “He found that the air bags had not deployed and the steering wheel was pressing into the driver’s chest. Mr. Schultz had been wearing a seatbelt and Dusselier tried to undo it; however, he was unable to release it.

“Despite this set of circumstances, he tried to remove Schultz from the driver’s seat by placing his arms under Schultz’s arms and lifting him out but he could not move him,” Smith recounted.

Dusselier now had no choice but to leave Schultz, and as he left the impinging flames, he apologized to him for being unable to do more.

Dusselier next tried to help the driver of the second vehicle.

“Despite gasoline now running from the fire over to the other vehicle involved, Dusselier ran over to the Dodge pickup, hoping that he could find the driver, Mr. Rousseau, which was upside down in the southbound lane,” Smith said.

“He found that the air bags had deployed. He looked inside the passenger window and, due to the darkness and the deployed air bags, he could not see Mr. Rousseau inside the vehicle.

“When he looked back towards the Explorer, he could see that the entire passenger side of this vehicle was now on fire and that the fire had extended into the passenger compartment,” Smith said.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the history of the Yukon is filled with documented acts of kindness, generosity, bravery and the willingness to provide assistance to those in need, no matter where they occur in this vast territory.

“Mr. Dusselier’s actions in this tragic accident are truly reflective of our territorial traditions of helping out anyone who is in peril without bias or judgment.”

In accepting the reward, Dusselier said he wanted to “thank the community and other bystanders.

“I’d also like to honour the gentlemen who lost their lives that night,” he added.

“I didn’t know them myself, but I heard heart-warming stories from close friends, and I think it’s important to take a moment to reflect on what we can do for each other as Yukoners.

“This is a great honour, and I appreciate it.”

In an interview with the Star this morning, Dusselier said, “It was a great honour but I’m conflicted about accepting it.”

Before trying to save the driver, he said, he thought quickly about his then-partner and his family, but then those thoughts quickly fled and action took over.

“It just passed you by very quickly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shanahan Blake-Simon received a bravery award in absentia for saving a man from drowning last June in Whitehorse.