Brandon Bylo of Groton said he was raised to say “yes ma’am” and “yes, sir” and thinks that “God puts certain people in certain places” when they are needed.

On the morning of April 21, on his way across the Gold Star Memorial Bridge and headed to the Crystal Mall to get pretzel bites for his 2-year-old daughter Amber, Bylo said he appeared to be in a position to help.

While others drove past, Bylo was one of at least three people that stopped on the bridge and jumped into action to save the passengers of a car involved in a crash with an oil tanker. One side of the bridge was engulfed in flames as the fuel oil spilled from the overturned tanker.

Bylo, 30, will be honored alongside New London Police Lt. Cornelius Rodgers at a special ceremony at 5 p.m. May 8 at the Garde Arts Theater in New London. New London Police Chief Brian Wright said both men, along with a third anonymous good Samaritan “displayed extreme heroism, character and a relentless life-saving commitment under enormously challenging conditions.”

Bylo had seen the pillar of black smoke rising as he was crossing the bridge, stopped, checked on his daughter and got out to see if he could help. He said Rodgers and the other unidentified man were already half dragging and half carrying the driver of the vehicle – 58-year-old Reginald Collins of New London – away from the swiftly spreading fire when he joined in to help. Rodgers had pulled Collins out of the driver’s seat and out the passenger side door. Bylo had run to the two to help carry Collins to safety.

“The flames had not yet reached the car but it was like a river of fuel coming down,” Bylo said. “I felt the heat from where I was standing.”

Bylo called Rodgers and the other bystander the real heroes because they did the heavy lifting but said he appreciated the recognition from Chief Wright.

Bylo said he thinks more people in the county need to have the mentality of being “your brother’s keeper,” and said he maintains some of the values he thinks has been lost on the younger generation. It’s the reason he said he didn’t hesitate to stop.

“They say I’m the oldest young man out there because I still have those values and ways instilled in me. I feel like that’s how America should be,” Bylo said.

The April 21 crash claimed the life of home heating oil tanker driver and family man Wallace “Wally” Fauquet III, 42, of Gales Ferry. Police said Fauquet was traveling south on Interstate 95 south when his truck struck Collins’ Toyota Avalon and rolled over, erupting into flames.

Collins, traveling with his 35-year-old daughter Chartel Butler, had gotten a flat tire and was stopped in the right lane of the bridge when their car was hit. The cause of the accident is under investigation by state police.

Chief Wright is not the only one looking to send a thank you to the good Samaritans. Attorney Anthony C. Basilica, who represents Collins and Butler, said the two are recovering from their injuries and appreciate the life-saving help they received on the bridge. The two plan to attend Monday’s event, Basilica said.

g.smith@theday.com