Christopher M. Rumbaugh rescued Mildred J. Hershey from burning, Tavares, Florida, June 8, 1989. Mrs. Hershey, 78, was a passenger in the back seat of a two-door car that caught fire after it was struck from behind. Driving nearby, Rumbaugh, 27, off-duty deputy sheriff, saw the accident and immediately approached the scene. Despite flames almost engulfing the car, Rumbaugh extended his upper body through the opened passenger door into the back-seat area of the car. He grasped Mrs. Hershey by the arms and pulled her out, then helped her walk away from the car moments before it was engulfed in flames. Mrs. Hershey was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation, first-degree burns, and a laceration; she recovered. Rumbaugh sustained second-degree burns to the left side of his body, and he recovered.
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