Christian Peterson
Reporter@riverbendnews.org
On Wednesday, Jan. 26, an amazing act of heroism took place in Live Oak. That night, Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson and his wife, Janey Rynearson, were traveling to Orlando on Interstate 10 and were exiting the freeway to make a stop at the Busy Bee in Live Oak. While waiting in the median to head northbound towards the Busy Bee, the couple's vehicle was t-boned. The Rynearsons' vehicle was pushed nearly 200 feet across two lanes of traffic and onto the on-ramp. It was at this time that their car burst into flames.
However, the couple's guardian angel was close by, as Robert Hammac happened to be at the intersection when the collision occurred. According to Get The Coast and Heather Rynearson Peters, the couple's daughter, Hammac flew into action to get the Rynearsons out of their burning car. Hammac pulled over and immediately started yelling at the couple to exit the car, as it was on fire.
“My mom is stepping over flames to get out of the car and then my dad couldn't get himself out of the car because the seat belt was stuck,” Peters said in an interview with Get The Coast. “Once he got that undone, he couldn't get himself out of the car because he was in so much pain. [Hammac] helped him out and got them as far away from the car as he could before the tires started exploding and then completely engulfed in flames.”
The Rynearsons were then taken to the Live Oak Trauma Center. Janey had suffered a bruise to her stomach from the seatbelt, but was quickly released. Mayor Rynearson, however, had a broken sternum, a broken rib and a hematoma near his kidney.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, Hammac was rewarded for his brave actions by being presented with the Good Samaritan Award at the Live Oak City Council meeting. In addition, Live Oak Mayor Frank Davis presented Hammac a key to the city earlier that day.
“We call Robert Hammac 'Our Hero- Our Angel,'” Mayor Rynearson said in a letter to Mayor Davis. “He saved our lives when he shouted to my wife, Janey, 'Get out of the car. Your car is on fire.' Once she was safely out of the car, he proceeded to my side where he opened the jammed driver's door and, with no regard for his personal safety, pulled me from the burning car. Janey and I can never thank Robert enough for his quick thinking and bravery. We know without a doubt he was sent by God to save our lives.”