Boston man gets national medal for Mississippi River rescue in Minnesota
Summary
Car Crash La Crescent Alabama in La Crescent, Alabama: A 37-year-old Minnesota man lost consciousness while driving, pulled into a rest area along the Mississippi River in La Crescent, and his truck crashed through brush and plunged into the river on June 30, 2025. A 32-year-old Boston man, Dustin Colson Leaning, heard the crash and swam out to the submerged pickup, eventually opening the rear driver's side door to rescue the semiconscious and bleeding driver as the truck was sinking. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded Colson Leaning the Carnegie Medal for Heroism for the rescue.
Publicly reported parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dustin Colson Leaning | Unknown | Injured |
| 37-year-old Minnesota man | At-fault party |
Original reporting
Boston man gets national medal for Mississippi River rescue in Minnesota