Bravery, strength and selflessness led to one of Columbus' highest awards for several local citizens during a Tuesday night meeting of the Columbus City Council.

Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John Tuesday night awarded several Chief's Coins to a group of "incredible athletes" and a local man who aided Columbus emergency crews rescue a couple trapped in a wrecked vehicle.

St. John passed the awards to Special Olympics Mississippi participants Rusty Guyton, Ruth Roberts, Laura Summerville, Hope Whitfield and Penny Burchfield.

During the Special Olympics, held May 16 at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Burchfield earned a gold medal in the bocce ball competition, and Roberts and Whitfield brought home fourth-place ribbons in the event.

Summerville returned to the Friendly City with a silver medal in the race walk competition.

"I think it's wonderful and heartwarming that these athletes were able to go down there and accomplish so much," said St. John. "I felt I really owed it to them for doing so well."

While traveling to the competition, Guyton and his mother, Sandra Rinehart, were involved in a vehicle accident on Highway 45 South between Brooksville and Macon when his mother lost control of the van they were riding in, said CPD Lt. Keith Worshaim.

Although the van left the road and overturned along the side of Highway 45 South, neither Rinehart nor Guyton were seriously injured.

"He and his mother didn't suffer any serious injuries. I think Rusty just ended up with a few scratches, but the wreck kept him from making it to the competition," said Guyton. "But he said he still wanted to go compete before they even got him out of the van."

Because Guyton was unable to compete in the Special Olympics, Burchfield offered to share her gold medal with Guyton and his mother, Worshaim said.

"After Penny heard about the wreck, she offered to share her medal with the family if she won one," Worshaim said. "That actually played a big part in her being awarded the Commander's Challenge Coin from the commander of Keesler Air Force Base."

Boxer break-out

St. John also awarded a coin to Dustin Nichols, a local boxer who aided emergency crews rescue a pair of victims trapped in a Cadillac after a May 27 wreck near the intersection of Fifth Street and Main Street.

The victims became trapped after their vehicle struck a trailer being pulled by a Toyota pickup truck fleeing police on Fifth Street South.

Nichols rushed to the scene shortly after the accident and shattered one of the car's windows with his arm, providing rescue crews easy access to the victims, said St. John. Neither passenger in the Cadillac suffered severe injuries.

"A few of us had shattered the window on one side of the car, but big Dustin came up on the other side and knocked out the window with his arm," St. John said. "Anyone who rushes in and helps us out like that; I have to show them some love."