'Angels' to the rescue

ATLANTA - Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. recently recognized two northeast Georgia DOT employees with an award for Heroism in the Line of Duty.

William Burrell and Jody Norton were honored during Georgia DOT's District 1 Employee Appreciation Day for their extraordinary efforts during one of this year s snow/ice events.

In March, Burrell and Norton were working a 12-hour shift monitoring State Route 17/75 in Towns and White counties when they rescued a woman whose vehicle slid off the roadway at Unicoi Gap.

According to a letter from Mrs. Forrest Nutting, driving conditions were hazardous when she saw a big, yellow, DOT salt truck and thought it was an angel sent to help because of her prayers. Near the apex of the mountain, her vehicle slid off the road and rolled down the steep mountainside and she thought it was "the end" for her. Just then, she wrote, a man s big hand brushed the snow off her window and helped her from the vehicle. Another passerby joined the rescue and the three men formed a  human chain and pulled her to the safety of the roadway.

"The DOT should be very proud of the professionalism their Department displayed through Mr. Burrell and Mr. Norton during a most difficult situation," her letter continued. "These men risked their lives clearing the very dangerous road, but also went beyond the call of duty to help me to safety. I commend DOT for doing such a fine job every day to keep Georgia citizens safe on our roads and highways."

Although both men describe their actions as "just doing the job," Commissioner Smith presented Burrell and Norton with a framed certificate and said, "DOT is proud to honor these outstanding employees. We are thankful to have these men as friends and coworkers. William Burrell and Jody Norton are assets to Georgia DOT and to the citizens of Georgia."

William Burrell is Highway Maintenance Superintendant for Towns County. He began his career with Georgia DOT in 1999. Burrell and his crew are responsible for the maintenance of all state routes in Towns. Jody Norton is a part of the Towns County Maintenance Crew as a Maintenance Equipment Operator. He joined Georgia DOT in 2003. Burrell and Norton both live in Hiawassee