Edwin Henry Howe attempted to save Raymond J. Mendes from burning, Lemoore, California, April 1, 1982. Mendes, 17, was pinned behind the steering wheel of his pickup truck after it had struck a van driven by Howe. Howe, 55, farmer, whose sternum was broken in the crash, left his van and ran to the passenger side of the truck. Flames that had broken out beneath the truck were shooting up its sides and into the cab as Howe entered the cab and attempted to free Mendes. As he did so, the truck’s gasoline tank exploded and covered both men with flames. Howe, who was able to get out of the truck and extinguish flames on himself, suffered numerous second-degree burns. He recovered after hospitalization. Mendes died in the truck.
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