David Patrick Rosamilia removed Ronald L. Weamer from a burning vehicle, Claysburg, Pennsylvania, April 24, 2008. Weamer, 61, remained in the driver’s seat of his car after a nighttime accident in which the car left the roadway, struck a tree head on, and caught fire in its engine compartment. Driving nearby, Rosamilia, 38, a general contractor who was on duty as a part-time police officer, was flagged down and alerted to the accident. He responded to the scene and tried to open the driver’s door of Weamer’s car, but it was jammed. Successful in opening the passenger door, he entered the vehicle and grasped Weamer but then found that Weamer’s leg was caught in the wreckage. Despite smoke and fumes in the car and flames entering it through a hole in the windshield, Rosamilia lay across the console and worked to free Weamer. Reaching under his arms and pulling on his leg, Rosamilia freed Weamer and, backing, pulled him from the car. Another man helped to move him farther away. Weamer was pronounced dead at the scene of injuries received in the crash, and Rosamilia sustained smoke inhalation, which required hospital treatment. He recovered in a week.
81680 – 9280
81680-9280