James L. Wise saved William A. and Lillian E. Berry from burning, Ormond Beach, Florida, October 6, 1991. Berry, 65, and his wife, 66, were trapped in their burning car, which was inverted in a drainage ditch and partially submerged in water, after a highway accident near dark. Wise, 37,automobile body technician, was traveling in the vicinity when he saw the accident. He ran to the car, which supported flames on the exposed underside of its engine. Seeing Mrs. Berry through a passenger-side window, he kicked the window in, grasped her, and aided her out of the car. With flames spreading toward the car’s fuel tank, Wise crawled through the window, fully entering the car, and released Berry’s safety belt. He then backed through the window, dragging Berry from the car, which shortly was engulfed in flame. Mr. and Mrs. Berry both required hospital treatment for injuries sustained in the accident.
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