Officers receive award for their actions during a crash in Lincoln County

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Two officers were given an award for saving two boys from a crash in Lincoln County.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office got a report of a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 80, near mile marker 163, at 9:45 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Nebraska State Patrol trooper, Alex Coffman, responded to the accident and reportedly found both vehicles on their sides in water of Fremont Slough. Coffman said he saw two boys standing in the water and he carried them to his vehicle.

According to authorities, the mother of the boys yelled that another child was still inside one of the vehicles.

Officials said Lincoln County Deputy Tyler Schultz was then at the scene and he helped Coffman try to get the one-year-old girl out of the vehicle. The girl was reportedly buckled into the car seat.

Reports state that Coffman submerged himself in the water and was able to cut the seat belt. Schultz then  pulled the girl out of the vehicle through a broken window.

Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska State Patrol Colonel John Bolduc gave the NSP Life Saver Award to Coffman and the NSP Public Service Award to Schultz