John Anderson Floyd helped to rescue Luis G., Teresa G., Cesar G., and Susanna Lopez from burning, Westminster, California, May 25, 1987. The car containing the Lopez family was struck from behind by a pickup truck and immediately burst into flame. From his car parked nearby, Floyd, 29, furniture mover, immediately ran to the scene and attempted to pull Lopez, 31, from the driver’s seat of the burning car, but his foot was stuck. After another man arrived and freed the foot, Floyd and the other man pulled Lopez out of the car and guided him to safety. Returning to the burning car, Floyd and the other man leaned inside and removed Mrs. Lopez, 31. Despite flames spreading on the exterior of the car and heavy smoke filling its interior, Floyd and the other man removed Cesar, 5, from the back seat. After they located Susanna, 6, and as they were removing her from the back seat, a burst of flame knocked them to the ground and set fire to Floyd. His flames extinguished, Floyd required hospital treatment for first- and second-degree burns to his face, hands, and legs, from which he recovered. The Lopez family also required hospital treatment for their burns.
62072 – 7200
62072-7200