One of the first people to come to the aid of those injured in the Oxford Eastern Bypass crash was among three members of the public to be honoured by the fire service last night.

Doreen White, 55, from Hardwick, near Bicester, received the Royal Humane Award while bus drivers Bruce Coppen, from Barton, Oxford, and Dennis Ratcliffe, from Abingdon, received commendations.

Mrs White was two cars behind the people carrier being driven by Angela Dublin which crossed the central reservation and crashed head-on into a car being driven by student Howard Hillsdon in May 2005.

Mr Hillsdon, 21, and youngsters Josh Bartlett, Liam Hastings and Marshall Haynes, all aged 13, were killed in the crash and Dublin has since been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.

Mrs White, a retired nurse who is now training to be a priest, said she and her son-in-law, firefighter Steve Johns, leapt out of the car and crossed the road as soon as they saw the crash.

While Mr Johns, who was recognised at last year's Chief Fire Officer Awards, contacted the fire service and coordinated rescue attempts, Mrs White set about assessing the condition of those caught up in the multi-vehicle pile-up.

Mrs White said: "I started at the back of the crash and made my way forward assessing where I could help best.

"At one point I was looking after one of the young lads that survived and then a student nurse came and said 'what I can I do?' and I told her to keep his airway open.

Mrs White then went to the car which Howard Hillsdon had been driving and saw passenger Daniel Orme was trying to clamber out.

Mrs White looked after Mr Orme for the next hour and a half. She said she had flashbacks about the accident in the months following the crash and had to have counselling.

Mr Orme told the Oxford Mail last night: "I am extremely happy that Doreen has finally been recognised for the part that she played on such a terrible day. Although the time she spent with me was relatively short, the impact she has had on my life is huge."

Mr Coppen, 32, and Mr Ratcliffe, 40, came to the aid of a couple whose flat at Gloucester Green in Oxford caught fire in January.