John E. Roach rescued Shirley E. Peck, Ellen L. Montague, and Marcia D. Watkins from burning, Tooele, Utah, October 8, 1988. Mrs. Peck, 49; Mrs. Montague, 38, and Mrs. Watkins, 49, were trapped inside a burning car after a highway accident. Having witnessed the accident, Roach, 42, security guard, immediately ran to the car, the rear and passenger side of which were aflame. As flames burned a leg of his trousers, Roach pulled on the car’s jammed passenger door several times before he was successful in opening it. He then reached inside the car, grasped Mrs. Peck, and helped her away from the car. Returning to it, he reached in for Mrs. Montague and led her to safety. Roach then ran to the driver’s side of the car and told Mrs. Watkins to roll her window down. After she did so, Roach extended his upper body into the car, grasped Mrs. Watkins, who was badly injured, and pulled her through the window. He supported her as they moved away from the car, which shortly was engulfed in flames. All three women required hospital treatment for extensive injuries, and Mrs. Peck and Mrs. Montague for burns.
63632 – 7325
63632-7325