Lionel H. Peters, Jr. saved Brenda Merkel from burning, Mantua, New Jersey, October 21, 1972. At night Miss Merkel, 19, lost control of her two-door sedan, which struck a tree before stopping with its rear end on the shoulder of the highway near the home of Peters, 48, instrument calibrator. Miss Merkel was injured; and fire broke out at the front and rear of the sedan. Peters ran to the burning vehicle and opened the passenger door but could see nothing inside because of dense smoke. He extended his upper body into the front compartment and, probing, found Miss Merkel lying on the seat. Peters obtained holds on Miss Merkel, pulled her from the sedan, and dragged her across the highway. Soon afterward the sedan was engulfed by flames. Miss Merkel recovered from her injuries.
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