CONROE, Texas – A Conroe man who risked his life to save a man trapped in a pickup truck during severe storms last year is now being recognized with one of North America’s top civilian hero awards.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced it will award the prestigious Carnegie Medal to 18 heroes across the United States and Canada, including Robert Chance.
When severe storms hit Houston in May 2024, Chance didn’t hesitate to jump into action.
The scene: a culvert filled with water and a man trapped inside his pickup, struggling to escape. Chance and his family pulled up and immediately prepared to help.
Without hesitation, Chance grabbed a hammer, climbed onto the pickup and began smashing the windows.
“I busted the back window and water came pouring out,” Chance recalled. “He handed me his bag; I put it on the roof and... I told him, when you start coming out, I’m going to grab you. And I did. I pulled him up and put him on top.”
The man Chance saved, Jeffery Jones, had accidentally driven into the culvert due to the heavy rain. The two men have since become good friends.
When asked about being called a hero, Chance said, “I actually don’t know. I don’t consider it that. I just consider me just doing what I feel like I was supposed to do. It’s not something to take lightly for sure. I would definitely do it again.”
The rescue took place more than a year ago, so Chance was surprised when he received the call about winning the Carnegie Medal — an award he didn’t even know existed.
“It’s mind-boggling, it really is for me,” Chance said. “I never would have expected to get something, especially at that level.”
Chance believes everything happens for a reason, especially since the only thing that put him in position to make the rescue was a mistake.
“We missed our turn, and if we didn’t miss our turn, he may not have gotten out,” Chance said. “By the time the police and rescue people actually got there, I already had him out. But the water was so high inside the truck, he may not have made it.”
The Carnegie Medal is awarded throughout the U.S. and Canada to civilians who enter extreme danger to save others. The medal will be presented to Chance in the coming months.