Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance employee and former Powell and Meeteetse teacher Ty Myers was plowing snow south of Cody in the early morning hours a few days before this past Christmas when he noticed tire tracks in the snow. He suspected a vehicle might have slid off Wyo. Highway 120 near Dry Creek.

He stopped and looked over the edge, seeing the car. The passengers, whose names weren't released, were lucky Myers even saw the vehicle, he said.

His alert action was recognized by WYDOT at a June 18 awards luncheon.

"I just got lucky that I saw her, because it is in a bad section," Myers told the Tribune Wednesday. "She could have been a couple feet more towards the highway, and I wouldn't have seen her. That's how blind that draw is. I just happened to look over, and I saw her taillights."

The passengers were a woman and her infant baby boy. Myers said the woman was in pain from injuries suffered during the accident and cold, but mostly she was worried about her child.

Myers immediately called for help and stayed with the passengers until they were safely in the hands of first responders. As a parent and grandparent, his heart went out to the mother and child.

"I have kids of my own and I got grandchildren, so it strikes nerves, that's for sure," he said.

Myers has six children of his own and spent most of his career teaching children and college students. He finished teaching in Powell during the 2024-25 school year, teaching career technical education. He also taught micro computing for Central Wyoming College.

As word got out of Myers’ actions to help save the mother and child, first responders and WYDOT employees started celebrating the new employee’s fete of heroism.

"Without hesitation, Ty climbed approximately 30 feet down a snow-packed icy embankment to reach the 1997 gray Lincoln passenger vehicle. Inside, he found a female driver and an infant trapped in the vehicle," said Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Brett Tillery in a release. "Ty remained focused on ensuring the safety of both of the crash victims and the traveling public."

Tillery said Myers took the extra step of applying ample sand to the roadway to reduce the risk of additional accidents after leaving the scene.

"Your selfless and heroic actions will be recognized by many and remembered for years to come," said WYDOT District 5 Engineer Peter Hallsten in a release.

Yet, Myers insists he's no hero.

"I don't think it's heroic. Any decent human being would have done the same thing I did," Myers said. "I think any WYDOT employee would do the same thing that I did. I just happened to be the guy that was there at the moment."

That hasn't stopped others from calling him out as a hero. Then, earlier this month the former educator was awarded the G. Clyde Larson Memorial Award for his "heroic" actions.

The award recognizes acts of heroism by WYDOT employees either on or off the job. Since its inception nearly 57 years ago, more than 60 department employees have been honored with the award. The Wyoming Highway Commission established the award in 1969 in honor of the late G. Clyde Larson of Jackson, who was appointed to a six-year term on the Wyoming Highway Commission (now Transportation Commission).

"Had Ty not taken the initiative to investigate, the vehicle might not have been discovered for hours or even days due to its concealed location," Tillery said. "Myers' selfless actions reflect his strong character, commitment to public safety and genuine care for the citizens of Park County and the state of Wyoming."

Myers had only been on the job for about six months when the incident happened.

"This was certainly not the situation you expected to deal with when you started off in your snowplow that early morning," WYDOT Director Darin Westby told Myers at the awards luncheon. "Others might have overlooked the subtle signs of trouble or simply continued driving, but your attention to detail and commitment to public safety saved a mother and her child."

Myers' name will be engraved on a permanent plaque mounted in WYDOT headquarters in Cheyenne.

"Your integrity and dedication to your neighbors and the travelers through our state make me incredibly proud to work alongside you and your fellow employees," Westby said to Myers and his wife, Janice.

District 5 Engineer Peter Hallsten said Myers represents a perfect example of the reasoning behind former Gov. Mike Sullivan's thoughts about Wyoming being "a small town with long streets."

"Myers contributes a lot to his community and is accountable to his friends and neighbors. He has high principles and values, and his daily actions and those on Dec. 22 are evidence of that," Hallsten said.

Myers is humble and has had a hard time dealing with the attention and being called a hero, saying his actions were "no big deal." But he hopes to live to see the day when the little boy he saved grows up to do something great.

"That would be super awesome," Myers said.