Cathy Schuh rescued Russell H. Tackett and helped to rescue Matthew G. Reed from burning, Willis, Michigan, August 18, 1997. Russell, 16, and Reed, 18, were trapped inside a car that erupted into flame after an accident at night on a secluded dirt road. Approaching in her vehicle, Ms. Schuh, 36, waitress, saw flames at the scene and stopped. She approached the passenger side of the car, on which flames issued from the engine, then reached inside, grasped Reed, who was unconscious, and attempted, without success, to remove him. As Russell then shouted for help, Ms. Schuh went to the other side of the car and forced open the driver’s door, which had been jammed. Flames by then were spreading to the interior of the car. Ms. Schuh grasped Russell, pulled him out of the car, then dragged him away from it. Reed shouted for help, and Ms. Schuh returned to the passenger side, where she attempted, again without success, to remove him. Despite flames on the driver’s and back seats, she entered the car in her attempt but had to withdraw because of conditions. Another woman who had responded freed Reed from the wreckage. Ms. Schuh pulled him from the car and dragged him away, the other woman patting out flames on his leg. The car was shortly engulfed by flames. Russell and Reed required hospital treatment for burns and other injury. Ms. Schuh strained her back and inhaled smoke; she recovered.
72090 – 8213
72090-8213