Good Samaritans receive awards from the Martin County Sheriff's Office

STUART, Fla. - The Martin County Sheriff's Office presented two bi-annual awards Thursday morning in Stuart.

The first 'Good Samaritan' certificates were handed out to Pamela Thomas, Joy Johnston and Jeanna Harding, who arrived immediately after a crash involving juvenile fatalities, one an infant, on the Florida Turnpike in April.

The three women helped first responders for about two hours after the accident.

"I don't really see a decision in whether to help or not. The only choice is to help," said Jeanna Harding.

The second award, the "Life-Saving Award," was presented to Deputy Sheriff Scott Bundy.

Bundy intervened when a dog attacked a local resident and shielded the victim from further harm. The victim was hospitalized from injuries received in the attack.

"Part of this job is being at the right place at the right time to make an impact, you know, that's half the battle. The other half is easy, you just gotta get in there and do it," said Bundy.

Deputy Bundy was previously honored for his actions when he helped to rescue a 72-year-old injured resident trapped in her burning home, and he also performed CPR on the victim of a workplace accident where the victim fell from scaffolding of a building undergoing renovation.