Louisa Pauline Vallero saved Connie L. Drummer from drowning, Spring Valley, Illinois, May 24, 1964. Mrs. Drummer, 17, her husband, and a young woman who could not swim were wading in the Illinois River and they stepped into a dredged channel nine feet deep at a point about 30 feet from the bank. The young woman sank. The husband tried to aid Mrs. Drummer, a poor swimmer, but she struggled with him. Miss Vallero, 18, schoolgirl, ran to the water and waded and swam toward Mrs. Drummer and her husband. After aiding the husband to his feet, Miss Vallero went to Mrs. Drummer, who was about 35 feet from the bank, flailing wildly and almost completely submerged. Miss Vallero submerged and pushed her up, until her face was above water. Mrs. Drummer continued flailing, and when Miss Vallero surfaced, Mrs. Drummer’s elbow struck her forcibly on the neck. Miss Vallero subdued Mrs. Drummer with a blow to the neck, then towed her toward the bank, the husband assisting in taking Mrs. Drummer from the water. Miss Vallero and several youths then searched for the other woman but could not find her. Her body was later recovered. Miss Vallero’s neck injury required an orthopedic collar for two weeks.
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