Michael Phelps Cohen, 16, schoolboy, saved Peter B. Scofield, 21, from burning, Bedford Village, New York, May 14, 1966. At night a two-door sedan driven by Scofield veered from the highway, struck a stone fence and a tree, and returned to the road, where it stopped in an upright position. Scofield, who sustained injuries, slumped unconscious in the middle of the front seat as the vehicle caught fire. Cohen ran to the door at the driver’s side. Flames generally four feet high covered the back end, and lesser flames issued from around the hood. Dense smoke was issuing from inside the automobile, where the entire rear seat and the back of the front seat were covered with flames. Cohen opened the door, extended his head and shoulders into the sedan, and took hold of Scofield. He pulled him toward the door but then found that he was caught. Freeing Scofield by jerking him forcibly, Cohen drew him from the automobile. As Cohen reached the side of the road with Scofield the flames suddenly increased, those at the back end rising as much as 10 feet into the air. Firemen arrived and put out the flames. Scofield recovered.
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