Nelson H. Stewart attempted to save Charles P. Dehoney from burning, Greenwood, Indiana, November 27, 1970. A station wagon containing Dehoney, 39, electronics engineer, veered from the highway, descended a bank, and stopped astride a gully in such a way that it was suspended with all wheels off the ground. Stewart, 32, schoolteacher, witnessed the accident and ran to the top of the bank, from where he could see Dehoney slumped against the steering wheel as the motor continued operating and the wheels turned. Descending to the gully, Stewart ran to the driver’s side of the suspended vehicle, the door handle of which was at the level of his shoulder. Flames appeared at the front end of the station wagon as Stewart tried in vain to open the door. There then was an explosive spread of flames which enveloped Stewart and inflicted extensive burns. He ran to the bank, rolled on the grass, and put out the flames on his clothing and body. Dehoney died. Stewart recovered after hospitalization.
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