PARIS — An Oxford County officer was recognized Tuesday at a meeting of the county commissioners for saving a woman’s life.

Cpl. Christopher Davis was honored for the rescue of Jennifer Clough, 42, of Norway. He removed her from her burning car when it was struck head-on at high speed on Waterford Road in Norway on April 22.

The driver of the car that struck her was William Stella, 36, of Stoneham, Mass., who died at the scene. Davis was assisted at the scene by Officer Brandon Correia of the Norway Police Department.

Davis had begun a pursuit of Stella’s vehicle near Crazy 8’s in Paris that same night, and called off the chase once he detected Stella’s vehicle being operated in a manner that was potentially dangerous to other drivers. Davis reported that the vehicle was operating at high speed and drifting to the left of the centerline.

After dropping back his pursuit speed, Davis arrived at the accident scene, where he found Clough’s vehicle burning in the middle of the road and Stella’s vehicle, also ablaze, at the left side of the road.

Davis and Correia quickly removed Clough from the burning vehicle, and she was airlifted to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she was treated for her injuries.

The American Legion Department of Maine also honored Davis with a Public Service Award on Saturday, naming him Law Enforcement Officer of the Year at its annual convention in Bangor for his handling of the same April 22 incident.

Dispatchers at the Oxford County Regional Communications Center have also been recognized for their handling of emergency communications traffic during the accident. 

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