An Amazon delivery driver was hailed as a hero at Tuesday’s Seneca Falls Town Board meeting after his quick thinking saved the lives of two women trapped during a house fire. Tyler Elton, who works for Syracuse Logistics, received the Civilian Life Saving Award from the town and police department for his courageous actions during the emergency.
The incident occurred in mid-December while Elton was delivering packages in a Seneca Falls neighborhood. As he drove his route, he noticed smoke billowing from a residence on Joann Street. Without hesitation, he stopped his vehicle and ran toward the house. There, he found a woman struggling to push another woman in a wheelchair away from the encroaching flames. Recognizing the immediate danger, Elton sprang into action, assisting both women to safety.
Chief of Police Tim Snyder praised Elton’s bravery and composure under pressure, stating, “Your swift actions in that moment went above and beyond what anyone could expect, and they directly contributed to preventing a tragedy. On behalf of the town of Seneca Falls, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your heroism.”
The award ceremony was met with applause from the board and attendees, with Supervisor Frank Schmidter calling Elton a “true hero.”
During the ceremony, Chief Snyder noted how rare such awards are, emphasizing that in his 25 years of service, only one other civilian in Seneca Falls had received a similar honor. “We don’t hand these out every year,” he said. “It’s reserved for those who display extraordinary bravery.”
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