WATERLOO -- It has been almost a year since Randy Bohr happened across the tragic accident along Highway 52 between Ossian and Calmar.

He was heading to work with his son Justin when they came upon the head-on collision. Other drivers had already stopped to offer what help they could, but the Bohrs knew they couldn't wait for help to arrive. They quickly assessed the scene and realized they would be unable to help either of the drivers; but they had hope for a young girl trapped in a car seat in the back of one of the vehicles.

"The car was on fire so we weren't sure if we should go up on it. We didn't know how close we should get," Randy Bohr said.

While others used fire extinguishers and snow to help stifle the flames the Bohrs used a pocket knife to cut the girl's seat belt and free her from the car.

"We weren't going to just stand there and watch the car explode with that child inside. We could see her and hear her," he said. "There were guys running around doing stuff; we just happened to be the ones to get her out."

Bohr took the 3-year-old girl to a nearby car so she could stay warm until help arrived.

In the end, the accident claimed the lives of both drivers, including the mother of the young girl.

Bohr's potentially life-saving actions earned him a place among the 2007 Heroes Among Us award winners sponsored by the Sartori Health Care and Covenant foundations.

His nominator, Tina Hageman, said she wasn't surprised by Randy or Justin Bohrs' actions.

"They have always been great people of our community," she said. "They are the kind of guys that if you had to choose someone to be at the scene of an accident you would want them around. They are brave. They didn't even hesitate even though the car was on fire. … There were plenty of people on the scene, and it's no surprise they were the ones to help."

Nominations are now being accepted for this year's award, which will honor 2008 heroes. Alyssa Becthold, co-chairwoman of the Heroes event, said heroes can be "everyday people who have gone above and beyond to help someone in need." She expects many of this year's nominations to be tornado or flood related, but said all hero nominations are welcome.

Nomination categories include: public safety (firefighter, law enforcement, security officers, 911 dispatchers, part-time or volunteer); Good Samaritan (youth 20 and under); Good Samaritan (adults 21 and older); community service (individual or group); medical/health care (physicians, nurses, EMTs, paramedics or caregivers); military (active duty, reserves, National Guard, individual or group); nature (nature rescue or environmental efforts); animal (heroic act involving an animal); workplace safety (heroic act in a workplace).

Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Jan. 2. Nominations can be made online at www.covheath.com, or forms may be picked up at the Cedar Falls Sartori Memorial Hospital and Covenant Medical Center front desks or foundation offices. Tickets for the March 26 award breakfast are also available for $20. Proceeds from the event will benefit emergency services departments at both hospitals.

Though Bohr said he never expected any recognition for his acts that day, he does appreciate that an honor like this exists.

"There are people who do a lot greater things than that. I just did what I felt was the right thing to do," he said.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.