Frank White, Sr., saved Jennifer D. Yagel from burning, Summersville, West Virginia, March 2, 2002. At night, Jennifer, 14, was trapped and unconscious in the back-seat area of a car after an accident in which the car left the roadway, struck a tree head on, and caught fire. White, 42, who lived nearby, was alerted to the accident. He responded to the scene and entered the car through the rear door on its passenger side. Although disabled by physical conditions that restricted his activity, he grasped Jennifer and pulled repeatedly to free her, as her legs were pinned. Flames entering the car were impinging on the driver, who was Jennifer’s brother, and White attempted to extinguish them. Then successful in freeing Jennifer, White pulled her from the car. His further efforts to extract her brother were thwarted by deteriorating conditions, forcing him to withdraw. Jennifer was hospitalized 17 days for treatment of severe injuries, and her brother died at the scene. White sustained minor burns to his arms, and he recovered.
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76579-8734