Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan presented awards to several state police employees during a ceremony held Friday at the State Police Academy in Hershey.

Among the honorees were Sgt. Robert J. Castner, 47, and Tprs. Jeffrey A. Hummel, 36, and Kurt S. Salak, 43, of Schuylkill Haven.Castner was honored for stopping a vehicle being driven the wrong way on a Monroe County Interstate highway by an elderly man suffering from a medical emergency.Noonan presented a State Police Commendation Medal to retired Castner, who retired in January of this year. He was the station commander at Troop N, Fern Ridge, when the incident occurred on July 6, 2010."Sgt. Castner's brave actions that day not only saved the life of the driver, but also protected other motorists on the highway," Noonan said.The incident began around 5:10 p.m. when Castner, driving an unmarked state police patrol vehicle, entered I-380 in Tobyhanna Township and saw a Pontiac Grand Am traveling south in the northbound passing lane. Castner began a pursuit, activating his car's lights and siren to warn oncoming traffic on the busy highway."Ignoring his own safety and recognizing the danger to the public posed by the situation, Sgt. Castner pulled up alongside the Grand Am and used his police vehicle to force the Grand Am to a stop on the berm," Noonan said.When Castner approached the Grand Am on foot, the driver attempted to pull away. However, he was unable to get past a pickup truck that had pulled onto the berm in front of the Grand Am."Sgt. Castner ran up to the Grand Am and got the keys away from the driver, who appeared disoriented and suffering from a medical emergency," Noonan said. "The sergeant summoned an ambulance, which took the operator to the Pocono Medical Center."Authorities determined that the operator, a 71-year-old Luzerne County man, had suffered a type of stroke. He was transferred to Geisinger Medical Center and later to a nursing home.The State Police Commendation Medal is presented to personnel for "a conspicuously significant achievement that enhances the prestige of the department," Noonan said.Castner enlisted in the state police in June 1985. He lives in Scott Township, Lackawanna County.Noonan also presented the State Police Medal of Honor to two troopers who entered raging floodwaters in Schuylkill County in March to pull an elderly man from his submerged vehicle.Noonan made the presentation to Hummel and Salak. Both troopers are assigned to the Patrol Unit at Troop L, Schuylkill Haven."The gallant efforts of these two men went far above and beyond the call of duty," Noonan said. "They placed their own lives in jeopardy in an attempt to save the life of another. Each is deserving of the State Police Medal of Honor, which is the department's highest award."Noonan said that during the evening of March 10, Hummel and Salak donned life jackets and entered rising floodwaters in an attempt to reach a 74-year-old man who had driven around barricades and into water along SR645 near SR443 in Pine Grove Township. The troopers were tethered to emergency services personnel on the scene.The troopers managed to smash windows to enter the submerged vehicle and extricate the victim. The troopers and victim were pulled from the water by the emergency service personnel. Unfortunately, the elderly man was pronounced dead at the scene.Salak and Hummel were transported to a hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Salak suffered a serious cut to his right forearm and Hummel suffered minor cuts.Hummel is a six-year veteran of the state police, while Salak has been with the department four years.