PITTSBURGH – A Maine man who saved a woman from drowning after her car crashed into the Sebasticook River in Pittsfield a year ago was among 19 people honored Thursday with Carnegie medals for heroism.

On Sept. 7, 2006, Sandra Hubbard, 51, of Burnham lost control of her car while trying to avoid hitting a turkey on Horseback Road. The vehicle shot down a boat launch at Peltoma Bridge and about 30 feet out into the river, according to a Bangor Daily News article published the next day.

Robert Danforth, 39, of Troy and his wife, Dot, had just finished kayaking on the river and were sitting in their car at the boat landing when they heard screaming and turned to see Hubbard trying to climb out of her sinking car, according to the news article.

Robert Danforth dove into the river, fighting the current and a panicking Hubbard, who could not get her seat belt undone and who cannot swim, to get her out of the sinking car and back to shore.

Hubbard was examined by rescue personnel who had been summoned by Dot Danforth, but she did not require treatment.

The Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission meets five times annually to choose honorees, who are brought to its attention through newspaper articles or tips on its Web site. Recipients or their survivors receive a bronze medal and $5,000.

A complete list of heroes is available online at www.carnegiehero.org.