Three years after he helped strangers caught in a fiery crash on the Trans-Canada Highway, one of the nine heroes being honoured with a Medal of Bravery says he feels a mix of emotions.

Master Warrant Officer Hamish Seggie put his life on the line in 2007 to save a young girl who was caught in a vehicle that was on fire in Headingley on the Trans-Canada Highway. Despite Seggie's efforts, and the efforts of eight other people, three people died in the crash.

"It's a mix of emotion, you're proud of what you've done, but at the same time people died in that accident," Seggie says in an interview.

The Governor General announced on Friday that Medals of Bravery are going to be presented to the nine people for their rescue efforts after the crash.

A vehicle had rear-ended a taxi and then hit an oncoming car on the Trans-Canada Highway. Five people nearby stopped and tried to pull a couple from the second vehicle hit in the crash, but flames and smoke made it too difficult.

Rescuers managed to break through the rear window of the car and free a young girl.

Four other people ripped out parts of the dashboard of another vehicle and managed to pull out the driver, who had been trapped by debris. The vehicle swiftly burst into flames, said officials.

Three Canadian Forces members, including Master Warrant Officer Seggie, and an RCMP officer are among the nine being honoured with the Medals of Bravery for their actions after that crash.

Seggie says that as a member of the Canadian Forces, he expects others would do the same as he did.

However, the medal will also carry a special meaning for the Seggie alone. Twenty years ago, his daughter, Kimberley, was killed in a car crash. Just two years ago, his son, Corporal Michael James Alexander, was killed in Afghanistan.

The honourees are: 

  • Joseph Henry Roland Bouliane, Winnipeg,
  • Major William Robertson Green, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
  • Blair William Allan Hockin, M.B., Portage La Prairie
  • RCMP Const. Alfred Douglas Lavallee, Winnipeg
  • Sergeant Joseph Kenneth Penman, Winnipeg
  • Master Warrant Officer Hamish Seggie, Winnipeg
  • Warrant Officer Shaun Spence, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Abebe Yohannes, Brandon
  • Herman Zarbel, Winnipeg

- with a report from CTV's Jeremy Hunka