Family photo of Ross Barfuss.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - An Oregon man who jumped into and stopped a moving tractor-trailer to save an unconscious Washington state driver and his son is among 19 people awarded Carnegie medals for heroism.

Matthew Lovo, of Chehalis, Wash., lost consciousness while hauling lumber near St. Helens, Ore., on Aug. 7, 2007. Nine-year-old Matthew Lovo turned off the ignition and was trying to steer the truck when Christopher Howard, of Warren, Ore., saw the boy driving.

The 36-year-old Howard stopped his car, jumped onto the slowing truck, opened the door and stepped on the brakes.

Also receiving a Carnegie medal was 16-year-old Ross Barfuss. The Aloha, Ore., teen drowned while trying to rescue an 11-year-old boy at Gleneden Beach on March 8. Barfuss was at the beach with his family when he spotted River Jenison struggling in the surf and tried to help.

Another rescuer pulled Jenison from the waves, but the boy later died at a hospital.

Steel baron Andrew Carnegie launched the hero fund in 1904 after hearing about rescue stories from a mine disaster that had killed 181 people. Since then, $31.2 million has been awarded to 9,262 people. Recipients, or their heirs, receive $6,000 and a medal.

More recipients of Carnegie Hero medals, which were awarded Thursday:

John A. Lloyd, 64, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., helped save William G. Wynne from drowning at Fernandina Beach on May 25, 2007.

Ross McKay Barfuss, 16, of Aloha, Ore., died trying to save River Jenison, 11, from drowning at Gleneden Beach, Ore., on March 8, 2008. Jenison also died.

James D. Crocker, 52, of Valley City, Ohio, saved Douglas K. Spielberger, 49, from burning in a vehicle fire in Valley City, on Sept. 3, 2007.

Shalinder Kaur Basran, 58, of Surrey, British Columbia, tried to save Navreet K. Waraich, 23, from assault at Waraich's apartment on Oct. 29, 2006. Waraich died of her wounds.

Richard Conine, 49, of Queensbury, N.Y.,

Joshua E. Mattison, 24, of Fort Ann, N.Y., saved Charles L. Mingo, 62, from drowning when he broke through ice while ice fishing in Lake George on April 2, 2008.

Clerc Higgins Cooper, 14, of New Orleans, helped to save two men from drowning in Lake Pontchartrain when their disabled boat capsized on Jan. 13, 2008.

Robert Ferrell, 14, of Jobstown, N.J., died trying to save his mother, Michelle A. Ferrell, 53, from a house fire on Feb. 27, 2008. His mother also died.

Gregory Bryant, 20, of Port Hadlock, Wash., tried to rescue Sandra J. Bundy, 74, from a house fire in Chimacum, Wash., on May 21, 2008. Bundy died.

Beth MacDonald, 40, of Franklin, N.H., died trying to save her daughters Molly, 11, and Jennifer MacDonald, 9, from a house fire on March 23, 2008. The daughters also died.

Jeffrey M. McNeil, 32, of Midwest City, Okla., tried to rescue John H. Gumm, 78, from a house fire on March 22, 2008. Gumm died.

Christopher Hess, 28, of Philadelphia, saved Corey Baxter, 6, from drowning after the car he was in went into the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on April 19, 2008.

Courtney E. Butler, 16, of Stephenville, Texas, died helping save Carlos Manzano, 19, from drowning in the flooded Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas, on May 29, 2007.

Christopher A. Howard, 36, of Warren, Ore., rescued Matthew T. Lovo, 32, and his son, Matthew R. Lovo, 9, from a tractor-trailer that lost control in St. Helens, Ore., on Aug. 7, 2007.

Shawn William Edele, 31, of Fruitport, Mich., died after helping to save John P. Van Etten, 23, from drowning at Delray Beach, Fla., on May 31, 2007.

Kenneth A. Oedewaldt, 63, of Mapleton, Ill., saved David L. Peterson, 36, from burning after a fire broke out in a church boiler room in Mapleton on March 7, 2008.

A. J. Skiptunas III, 49, Wrightsville, Pa., rescued Mary E. Caldwell, 63, from an attacking dog in Windsor, Pa., on Oct. 6, 2007. Both had to be hospitalized for bite wounds.

Ledford Wayne Arthur, 53, of Paint Bank, Va. saved Dennis D. Williams, 48, from electrocution while they were repairing a commercial oven in New Castle, Va., on April 20, 2007.

Francis William O'Hara, 48, of Riverside, R.I., tried to save Jose A. Orellana, 43, from drowning in a rip current in Narragansett, R.I., on July 16, 2007. Orellana drowned.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)