SWANVILLE — On Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. the Waldo County Dispatch Center received an emergency call at 950 Swan Lake Ave. in the Town of Swanville. The complainant advised dispatch that Thomas Benner, 48 years old, had been working on his loaded tractor trailer when the jack he was using malfunctioned causing the trailer to collapse onto his chest.

Deputies Merl Reed and Jonathan Shaw responded to the scene and were advised while in route that family was unable to free Benner, and that his condition was becoming grave.

Daniel Littlefield, 46 years old, of Swanville who was working on a vehicle at a neighboring residence was alerted to the incident at the Benner residence. Littlefield, who operates a local wrecker business, responded to the Benner residence with his wrecker and was able to lift enough weight on the rear axle of the trailer for Benner's family to free him from under the trailer.

Belfast Fire and Ambulance personnel responded to the scene and the ambulance transported Benner to the Waldo County General Hospital where he was transported via LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Friday, Dec. 29, Sheriff Scott Story and Sheriff-elect Jeffrey Trafton honored Daniel Littlefield by presenting him with a letter of thanks from the Sheriff's Office, a Certificate of Recognition, a Waldo County Sheriff's Office challenge coin for his actions which directly resulted in saving Benner's life.