Cortland County Man Receives State Honors

CORTLAND, 11/13/08 – State Senator James L. Seward announced today that New York State Department of Transportation worker Christopher Larkin of Virgil is the recipient of an Excellence in Transportation Award for preventing an accident victim from suffering more serious injuries.  Christopher is also the recipient of a Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, which is the highest award bestowed within NYSDOT reflecting the best of the best.

“Chris reacted heroically to a life and death situation and was able to save another human being,”  Senator Seward said.  “He is an exemplary state employee and is much deserving of such an honor.  I congratulate him on the awards and am proud to count him as a constituent of the 51^st district.”

In September 2006, Larkin was off-duty and on his way home from work during rush hour when he came upon a serious motorcycle accident on heavily traveled Interstate 81 just south of exit 5 (Front Street) in Binghamton.  Christopher immediately stopped his vehicle and ran to the aid of the motorcyclist who had suffered serious injuries.  At this busy stretch of highway where cars travel at a high rate of speed, Christopher diverted traffic around the accident scene and comforted the victim until emergency services arrived.  

Larkin, a Region 9 Motor Equipment Mechanic in the Binghamton Equipment Management facility, received the honor at a recent ceremony in Albany.