James A. Boylan, 56, gateman, rescued Samuel J. Heit, Sr., 69, casket company superintendent, from burning, Easton, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1954. Heit’s two-door sedan was struck from behind by a trailer-truck, skidded 80 feet, and stopped on an earthen shoulder of the highway. The impact demolished the rear end of the sedan and ruptured the fuel tank, which was thrust forward into the rear compartment. Heit was knocked unconscious. Flames 10 feet high enveloped the rear of the sedan, and gusts of flame rose from the hood. Boylan ran 300 feet to the door at the driver’s side of the sedan. He tried to open the door, found it was jammed, and made his way around the front of the vehicle to the other door, which he opened. Heit lay sprawled in the front seat, his feet being entangled in the wreckage. There were low flames beneath the dashboard, and the front and rear seats were afire in places. Heat was fairly intense. Boylan, who got hold of Heit but was unable to pull him from the seat, extended his head and upper body into the sedan and freed Heit’s feet. He drew Heit outside and with the aid of another man carried him a safe distance away. The flames, which destroyed the sedan, were extinguished by firemen. Heit, who was revived, suffered a fractured leg and sustained severe burns of the hand, arm, head, face and neck. He recovered. 43551-4007
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