Marie- Eve Renaud saved Gerard Gravel from being struck by falling debris, Montreal, Quebec, July 30, 1996. Driving an automobile on a downtown street, Gravel, 50, was stopped in traffic beneath a railroad overpass. Atop the overpass, a loaded dump truck weighing in excess of 25 tons broke through the structure, sending large chunks of concrete and other debris onto Gravel’s car. The debris demolished the car and jammed and blocked its doors, trapping Gravel inside. The truck itself remained suspended overhead through the resulting hole in the overpass ceiling, where it dropped part of its cargo of sand and stone onto Gravel’s car. Gravel shouted for help. Another motorist in the vicinity, Ms. Renaud, 22, college student, left her car and approached the scene. With debris continuing to fall, she pulled on the driver’s door of Gravel’s car until it opened, then helped Gravel crawl out. They fled to safety.
72218-8196