Charles R. Crickenberger, 17, schoolboy, saved Kent A. King, 26, truck driver, from an explosion, Arrington, Virginia, August 21, 1966. King was driving a tractor-trailer transporting 7,500 gallons of gasoline and with approximately 100 gallons of gasoline in its two fuel tanks behind the cab. At a curve the tractor-trailer veered from the highway, overturned on its right side, and rolled to an angle of 45 degrees with all wheels in the air. The motor continued to run. Crickenberger saw the overturned vehicle and, fearing that an explosion was imminent, ran to the tractor to aid anyone in it. King, badly dazed, was attempting to climb through the door window, which was two feet above the ground because of the angle of the vehicle. Crickenberger extended his arms into the cab, grasped King, and aided him to the ground. He then lifted King to his feet and took him six feet to the road. He asked if there was anyone else in the cab, but King was too dazed to answer. Crickenberger ran to the front of the tractor and peered through the windshield. Just then one of the fuel tanks exploded, and flames rose 15 feet above the tractor. Burning gasoline was sprayed onto Crickenberger, igniting his clothing and singeing his hair. He ran to King, whose shoes had been set afire, and together they ran across the road to a field. Crickenberger, who had removed his burning shirt as he ran, rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames on his trousers. The other fuel tank and then the tank trailer exploded. Flames rose 50 feet into the air. It required two hours for firemen to put out the fire. King sustained burns to his face and arms. Crickenberger suffered more extensive burns. Both recovered after being hospitalized.
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