LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Sysco showed their thanks to the Louisville Fire Department on Friday after the rescue on Second Street Bridge earlier this month.

On March 1, a four-vehicle crash caused a Sysco semitruck to go through the railing of the Second Street Bridge. During a harrowing moment that has since gone viral nationally, Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden was lowered down to the truck to rescue the trapped delivery driver.

Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican donated over 1,500 pounds of food and $20,000 to the department to honor the heroic efforts of the first responders. Sysco also gave each member of the fire department gift cards.

The company made the announcement at the Louisville Fire Training Academy, where men and women train for worse-case scenario situations -- like what happened on the 2nd Street Bridge.

"I can't think of a more incredible moment than this opportunity to share food together," Hourican said. "It's just one small, tiny contribution towards that great cause. What's the price of a life work? I don't know how life's what is the price of life. You can't compute it. You can't put $1 amount behind it, with a $20,000 contribution and food contributions to fire departments as well as the meal we'll celebrate here today, it's one very small gesture to communicate our appreciation."

The $20,000 will go toward the annual Louisville Fire award banquet Sysco also gave Carden a plaque for his heroic efforts in rescuing the trapped driver.

"I can't even begin to understand what this team behind us went through that day. The stress they must have felt," Hourican said.

"That showed the world, what special training, what special people it takes to be a firefighter," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said.

The mayor said their training and teamwork, landed them back on solid ground.

"The men and women that were on the ropes, the ones that were on the trucks, the ones that were in the boats, so many different parts have to come together to make that successful. And it's that teamwork and that's why we're so appreciative to have Sysco," Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said.

O'Neill said food is the perfect gift because it'll continue to fuel their live saving work.

"A firehouse is not a firehouse because we live there for 1/3 of our lives and something that we do as a family every day is we cook meals together. We take care of each other we feed each other," O'Neill said. "In fact, when I graduated from this academy 23 years ago, my first captain didn't ask, 'Do you know how to lay a line? Do you know how to throw a ladder?' He asked, 'Do you know how to cook because you got to be able to cook for the crew.' So we really, really appreciate what Sysco has done for us today to bring out and feed everybody in the department."

Recently, the department asked the city for more funding to upgrade old equipment and aging stations. Louisville Fire responds to about 50,000 incidents a year.

"As chief touched on, it's just it takes a whole team and everybody sees the one face on the news," Carden said. "Yeah, I was ... but without all the guys behind me and all the training that we put in overtime, it doesn't happen."

Carden said the driver of the semi-truck is doing well. She's recovering with her friends and family, eagerly waiting to get back on the road.

At the announcement, Sysco also thanked a private citizen who helped their driver stay calm on the bridge before first responders made it to the scene.

Hourican also shared a story about his family member serving on a fire department during the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"My uncle the effect that that had on him is that a tremendous impact on me and on my life. And I can't even begin to understand what this team behind us went through that day. The stress they must have felt," Hourican said.

Greenberg also shared a story about his grandfather serving in New York as a fire fighter, too.

"I too grew up having a huge admiration for firefighters, understanding the bravery and the challenges that they deal with every day to keep everyone else safe," Greenberg said.

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