Homer Evans rescued Epifanio Ramirez from burning, Coleman, Florida, October 12, 1997. Ramirez, 22, was the driver of a pickup truck that, at night, left the highway and crashed into a truck tractor parked in the yard of a residence. An explosion occurred, and both vehicles caught fire. Awakened by the crash, Evans, 46, truck driver, who lived in the residence, went outside and learned that Ramirez, injured and unconscious, remained inside the burning pickup, which was separated by 12 feet from the burning tractor. Evans approached the pickup and tried to open the driver’s door, but it was damaged. He then responded to the pickup’s passenger side, which faced the burning tractor. The pickup’s dashboard and floor were aflame, as was Ramirez’s clothing. With difficulty, Evans pulled open the passenger door, then leaned inside the pickup and smothered the flames on Ramirez. He grasped Ramirez and tried to pull him out of the vehicle, but one of Ramirez’s feet was caught among the pedals. Evans freed the foot then pulled Ramirez out of the pickup. Ramirez required hospital treatment for his injuries.
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