Two Missouri Department of Transportation workers are being honored for their efforts to save two Illinoisans during a flash flood.
Keith Golian and Thomas Ragland recently received the department’s Meritorious Safety Award.
On July 25th, Ian Hughes and Garrett Pechenka were traveling on Route 19 between Center and Perry, Missouri. Extensive rains caused flash flooding, and the car carrying the Galesburg men was swept off the road. They found themselves clinging to trees.
Both Ragland and Golian helped get life jackets to the young men, and they were then pulled to safety.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Need Wind Mitigation? New Florida Insurer Wants to Help With That
What Happens to Property Pricing in ’27, Insurance, Reinsurance Execs Ask
Florida-Based Safepoint Withdraws IPO Just as it Was Expected to Launch
North Carolina Becomes First State to Pass Outright Ban on Litigation Financing 

