Pa. Mail Carrier Recognized for Saving a Life

Aug. 25--A Pike County mail carrier will be recognized by his postmaster and local officials on Wednesday after saving a woman's life while on the job.

Joseph Biss, a 27-year United States Postal Service employee from Matamoras, was returning to the post office at the end of his route in the afternoon on July 18 when he noticed a strange sight. Flames and smoke were rising from the bottom of a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road by the Mid-Delaware bridge.

The vehicle stopped after it crashed into a tree, and Biss immediately responded to the nearby scene. The driver of the vehicle had already exited, but a woman was trapped in the passenger seat. Biss managed to get the door open and assist the woman away from the vehicle, minutes before the vehicle was entirely engulfed in flames.

It wasn't until afterwards that Biss learned the woman suffered from multiple sclerosis and needed the assistance of a cane to walk. Biss later helped carry her to the responding ambulance.

For his actions, Biss will receive a certificate of recognition from Postmaster David Torres and the Central PA District and has been nominated for the Postmaster General Hero Award. Regardless if Biss wins, though, Torres said he's a local hero.

"We're proud of that, and we just want to recognize and thank him for that," Torres said.

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