Larry Nance, 33, ranch-hand, rescued Marshall M. Atkins, 42, truck driver, from burning, Fairland, Texas, March 1, 1948. A trailer-truck driven by Atkins crashed into the side of a freight train at a crossing. The train continued a short distance beyond the truck, which stopped with the left side of its cab tilted over the track. The bottom of the left door was against the ties, holding the door half open. The gasoline tank beneath the seat was ruptured, and flames broke out on the underside of the truck. Atkins extended his head and arms through the doorway, but his foot was caught inside. Flames rose inside the cab, setting fire to his clothing below the hips, and issued out of the open right door window to a height of six feet. Two auxiliary tanks containing 40 gallons of gasoline apiece were just to the rear of the cab. Nance ran to the left side of the cab. Although warned by one of the trainmen of a possible explosion, Nance stooped, took hold of Atkins under the arms, and with difficulty pulled him out of the cab after working his foot free of its shoe. Nance dragged him four feet from the cab and removed his trousers. Aided by a trainman, Nance then carried Atkins farther from the track. Three minutes later the outlet pipe of one of the auxiliary tanks blew out, and flames rose 30 feet from the tank. Atkins died nine days later of his burns. Nance was not burned.
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