Culpeper, VA Resident Receives VITA(TM) Wireless Samaritan Award.

WASHINGTON -- The Wireless Foundation and members of CTIA-The Wireless Association[R] proudly honored AT&T customer, PFC (Patrolman First Class) Peter Facazio of Culpeper, Virginia on Monday, June 2nd with a 2008 VITA(TM) Wireless Samaritan Award. Facazio was honored during the 14th Annual Wireless Foundation Achievement Awards Dinner for using his wireless device to help prevent a potential tragedy.

Peter Facazio, an off-duty Fairfax County police officer, was driving on a rural stretch of highway with his wife Bernadette and their two children when he noticed a driver swerving erratically between lanes. PFC Facazio noticed the driver appeared heavily intoxicated and was shocked to see a young child in the passenger seat. He dialed 911 on his cellular phone and gave dispatchers the vehicle's plate number and location. A short while later the vehicle left the road completely, striking a guardrail before becoming stuck in a culvert. PFC Facazio and several other motorists ran to the accident scene; one grabbed the screaming child from the smoking vehicle as PFC Facazio approached the driver, who was obviously impaired to the point that he was having difficulty standing. As Mrs. Facazio came over to offer first aid, a car struck their vehicle, throwing her over the guardrail. PFC Facazio attended to his wife and stayed with the intoxicated driver until Virginia State Troopers arrived. The driver was later charged with driving while under the influence of drugs and felony child endangerment.

"Thanks to Peter Facazio's immediate response and the use of innovative wireless technology, tragedy was averted," said Steve Largent, CTIA-The Wireless Association[R] President and CEO. "On behalf of the wireless industry, I commend Peter for taking responsibility and stepping up to the plate to lend a hand in this life-threatening situation. Peter is a well-deserving recipient of the 2008 VITA(TM) Wireless Samaritan Award, and we are proud to honor him in this way."

Every day more than 290,000 wireless phone calls are made to 911. That is why the VITA[TM] (Latin for "life") Wireless Samaritan Awards are presented annually to recognize people across the United States who used their wireless technology to save lives, stop crime and help in other emergency situations. These individuals exemplify the importance of putting safety first, as well as the crucial role wireless technology can play in emergencies.

In recognition of PFC Peter Facazio's quick thinking and bold action during an urgent situation, he was selected by a panel of law enforcement and emergency response representatives to receive the 2008 VITA(TM) Wireless Samaritan Award. This award honors citizens who have used wireless responsibly in emergencies, and is given annually to roughly thirty recipients nationwide.

The Wireless Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed by member companies of CTIA-The Wireless Association[R] in 1991. The Foundation oversees a number of programs designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society.

www.wirelessfoundation.org