ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Five cadets from the Robertsdale Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps have been awarded a Meritorious Achievement Award by the NJROTC Regional manager for assisting in a serious motor vehicle accident recently.

While driving from Robertsdale to Gulf Shores for a joint NJROTC Summer Leadership Academy at Gulf Shores High School, cadets and Petty Officer 1^st Class Edward Theodoro, who was driving the school bus, witnessed a head-on collision which occurred directly in front of the bus, said Lt. Col. Scott Meehan, senior Naval science instructor and commander of the NJROTC program at RHS.

“The bus was not part of the incident, but observing the serious nature of the incident, Petty Officer Theodoro safely parked the school bus on the side of the road in order to render immediate assistance to an unconscious driver in a burning vehicle,” Meehan said in a statement issued Monday.

The cadets, Benjamin Garriga, Ren Magtagnong, Elizabeth Johnson, Emyle Mann and Kenneth Harms, were directed to remain on the bus so they were never in any danger, Meehan said. On the bus, however, the cadets calmly notified local authorities of the incident and brought first aid kits to Theodoro when required.

“Their clear and concise assessment of the situation with an exact location enabled authorities to respond with the correct resources in the correct location at the right time,” Meehan said. “Did the cadets pull someone out of a burning vehicle? No. Did they demonstrate a level of control, poise and situational awareness uncommon for most people their age? Absolutely. Therefore, without question, they had a part in potentially saving a human life.”

The driver of the vehicle was not identified but a statement from social media was included in the release.

"I just wanted to thank you for saving my life the other day,” the statement read. “I know most people would have just drove on by! It’s men like you that restore my hope in this corrupt society we live in today thank you so much for your kind act.”