Branden L. Bonge saved Mallery and Megan Smith from burning, Waco, Texas, March 25, 2009. Sisters Mallery, 10, and Megan, 9, were passengers in a sport utility vehicle that, in a two-vehicle highway accident, left the roadway, overturned onto its roof, and started to burn at its front end. Bonge, 28, general manager, drove upon the scene and responded to the passenger side of the vehicle. Despite flames entering its front interior, he kicked out a window and, partially entering it head first, pulled Mallery out. After taking her to safety, Bonge returned and crawled inside again, farther, to grasp Megan, who was unconscious. He removed her from the vehicle, which was shortly engulfed by flames, with the flames spreading to the other vehicle, nearby, that was involved in the accident. Mallery and Megan required hospital treatment for their injuries, and Bonge was treated at the hospital for minor injury and for inhaling smoke.
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