MFPE Member Sara Lubke was presented with the Meritorious Service Award on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 as a token of gratitude for her life-saving actions in a four-vehicle crash that occurred on May 3, 2021.

A Motor Carrier Services Officer for the Department of Transportation, Corporal Lubke was the first responder to an accident that was reported on I-15 near Conrad involving two cars and two semi-trucks.

A controlled burn had obstructed visibility on the interstate and the driver of one of the involved vehicles had slowed down when they were rear-ended by another car, causing a ripple effect that involved four vehicles in total.

Upon arriving on scene, Corporal Lubke noticed that one of the involved cars had caught fire and tried to put it out before realizing that a passenger was stuck in the affected car. She then shifted her efforts toward evacuating the passenger and ensuring their safety.

Governor Gianforte presented Corporal Lubke with the Award, saying “Tragically, there were two fatalities as a result of the crash. There is no doubt that Corporal Lubke’s actions saved others from that same tragic fate.”

In speaking to KRTV, Corporal Lubke said, “I was just thinking about making sure everybody was safe and controlling the scene, trying to put out the fire if I could. If not, get everybody out and make sure they are far enough away that they can be safe…I was just doing my job.”

MFPE members like Corporal Lubke keep our roads and the Montanans who drive on them safe every day.