Carmen J. Nini, 40, bus driver, helped to save Linda Mollov, 17, and others from burning, North Brunswick, New Jersey, October 9, 1959. At night in heavy rain a bus driven by Nini and containing a college professor, his wife, and 38 young women students was struck from behind by a trailer truck. The rear end of the bus was caved in, and gasoline from its ruptured tank was ignited. As Nini stopped the bus and turned on the interior lights, an outburst of flames filled the rear section. Some passengers left by the main door before a number of others jammed the steps leading to it. Nini separated the young women and by restraining the others pushed four of them one at a time down the steps. He then moved outside and aided others through the main door. Reentering the bus, he stepped onto a footboard and moved from one to another up the aisle, on which patches of flames were burning, to two young women who were on the floor with their clothing afire. He aided each to her feet, and they left the bus. Nini continued stepping over and around flames to the emergency door, which had swung shut after one young woman had escaped through it. Flames burned close to the door and on nearby seats, and heat nearly was suffocating. Nini pushed open the emergency door and then lifted each of three young women to it as several others made their way to the main door. Nearly overcome by the heat, Nini moved through the emergency door to the outside. Flames then rose 25 feet into the air at the back of the bus. James C. Cunningham arrived from another bus which he had been driving just ahead of Nini. Cunningham entered the burning bus through the emergency door, found a young woman near it, and pulled her with him as he backed out. He then reentered the bus and carried two other young women one at a time to the door, through which Nini pulled them to the outside. Nini then climbed back into the bus and with Cunningham moved to within two feet of the solid wall of flames to reach Linda, who was badly burned. They carried her through the emergency door, which was blocked soon afterward by flames spreading through the bus. Nine young women and the professor were burned to death in the bus, and Linda and another young woman later succumbed to their burns. Nini, whose clothing was scorched, sustained burns on his hands and face but recovered. 44861-4316
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