ATHENS - The Athens man who jumped in front of a speeding driver to pull a baby stroller out of the street has been honored posthumously with the Heroism Award, one of the 2002 Governor's Awards of Excellence. <br>
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Randy Burris, 39, was awarded earlier this week in Atlanta. <br>
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The awards are presented to recognize the dedication and professionalism of employees of Georgia state agencies and authorities. <br>
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Burris had worked for the state Department of Labor. <br>
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Police say Burris saved an infant girl and her mother from certain injury when he shoved them out of the way of a suspected drunken driver in an Athens neighborhood last November. <br>
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Burris was in his front yard when Heather Carlson, 26, walked by with her 2-month-old daughter, Nyah. Burris had never met the two before they lived in Miami and were visiting family for Thanksgiving and started chatting with Carlson. <br>
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That's when they heard an Oldsmobile screech around the corner and lose control, heading straight for them, police said. <br>
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Carlson tried to push the stroller into the grass, but it got stuck. Burris grabbed the handle from her and ran toward the lawn. He was hit in mid-stride. <br>
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Though Nyah was sent flying from her crumpled stroller, the baby was virtually unscathed. <br>
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Burris died Nov. 27, two days after the crash. <br>
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Athens-Clarke police have charged 26-year-old Ricardo Arriaga-Gutierrez with three felony counts of vehicular homicide. <br>
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Arriaga-Gutierrez also faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident, no proof of insurance and driving without a license.
