George L. Chenier, Jr., died after rescuing Paul C. Navarette from burning, Moreno Valley, California, August 10, 2000. Paul, 15, was the passenger in a pickup truck driven by his father that, in a highway accident, overturned onto its driver’s side and caught fire. Driving nearby, Chenier, 29, assistant store manager, parked at the scene and ran to the burning truck. With flames spreading quickly on the truck to engulf it, Chenier grabbed Paul by the arms and pulled him out, through the window of the passenger door. They fell to the pavement aflame, then walked from the truck to where others extinguished the flames on them. Paul and Chenier required hospitalization for treatment of serious burns, Chenier’s to 90 percent of his body. He died of his burns the next day. Paul’s father died at the scene.
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