City honors those who answered the call to attempted rescue amid rubble

Boston EMT Greg MacCurtain received a citation yesterday from his father. Acting Boston Fire Commissioner Kevin MacCurtain (left). His mother, Maureen, is at right. (Globe Staff Photo / Bill Greene)

When paramedics and firefighters rushed into the partially collapsed Interstate 90 connector tunnel Monday night, they found a car buried beneath a pile of rubble and a massive concrete ceiling panel dangling by what appeared to be its last bolt.

``We were able to lasso a piece of the concrete," Boston Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Finn recalled yesterday. ``A couple of good tugs, and they were able to get the 2-ton piece out of the way."

Rescuers then encountered Angel Del Valle, who had walked over to the ambulances with his head bleeding.

In those first few anxious moments, the only thing that mattered was Del Valle's wife, Milena, still inside the car, said Greg MacCurtain, an emergency medical technician for Boston EMS.

Curtain and others crawled under the debris along a catwalk to reach the crushed passenger side of the car. They found Milena Del Valle, 38, but she was dead.

Those paramedics and firefighters were honored yesterday at Boston Fire Department headquarters for risking their lives by racing into the dangerous tunnel, and working together to plow and dig through the wreckage.

Acting Fire Commissioner Kevin MacCurtain honored members of Ladder Company 18, Engine Company 39, and Rescue Company One ``in recognition for outstanding contributions to citizens of the city of Boston."

Also honored was Greg MacCurtain, the commissioner's son, who was among the first on the scene. ``I am very proud," the commissioner said. ``He did an outstanding job."

Though he wasn't present at yesterday's ceremony, EMT Michael Connelly was also honored for his service.

To all, the recognition was bittersweet. ``We hoped it would be a rescue," Greg MacCurtain said.

Instead, Milena Del Valle's family was arranging for her funeral yesterday. Her husband plans to send her body back to Costa Rica, where she was born and where her three children still live.

An account has been set up at Citizens Bank for her family in the name of the Hispanic Community Church of Boston, where Milena Del Valle was a member. Those interested in donating may do so at any Citizens Bank branch.

There are no plans to file a lawsuit, said Ines Del Valle, Angel Del Valle's sister. ``Neither our family nor her family see the need," she said, speaking in Spanish and weeping outside her home in Dorchester, where her brother has been staying since the accident.

``We want to thank everyone for all the messages of love and condolences they are sending," she said.

Maria Cramer of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Megan Tench can be reached at mtench@globe.com.