Daniel Franz

Daniel Franz saved Stan R. Pelletier from burning, Carmel, New York, April 7, 2022. In nighttime darkness, Pelletier, 68, was the driver of a sport utility vehicle that left a highway, struck and hung atop a 7-foot-high rock wall at the crest of a steep embankment that bordered a reservoir. Franz, 31, conservation officer, was on patrol nearby and came upon the scene and saw Pelletier inside the wreckage. Franz attempted to open the driver’s door, but it was jammed by a damaged road sign. Franz then opened the rear, passenger-side door, and Pelletier asked Franz to remove his snarling dog. Franz climbed down the rock wall, opened the front, passenger door, removed the dog, and handed it to another officer who responded. A fire had broken out at the front end of the SUV at the undercarriage as fuel leaked from it. As the other officer alerted Franz to flames burning the undercarriage, Franz fully entered the SUV alone and grasped Pelletier under his arms and pulled, but one of Pelletier’s legs was trapped. Franz pulled on Pelletier a second time, and Pelletier’s leg came free. Franz, backing through the front passenger door opening, dragged Pelletier across the center console and out of the vehicle. He dragged Pelletier a short distance away, and flames by then had engulfed the vehicle. Franz dragged Pelletier farther to a point about 10 feet away, then stood between him and the vehicle to block the flames and heat from Pelletier. Other responders arrived and assisted Pelletier up to the top of the wall, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of severe injuries. Franz was not injured.