Peter J. Varsalona helped to save Usman A. Chaudhry from burning, Kearny, New Jersey, March 26, 2005. Following a nighttime highway accident involving the four-door car that he was driving, Chaudhry, 18, remained in the driver’s seat, unconscious. Flames broke out at the front end of the vehicle and grew and spread rapidly. A motorist, Varsalona, 56, attorney, came upon the scene. He approached the passenger side of the vehicle, entered the front seat completely, and reached over to Chaudhry but found that Chaudhry was trapped. Leaving the car to ask for help, Varsalona re-entered, grasped Chaudhry about the arms, and pulled on him as another man pushed from the back seat. They removed Chaudhry through the passenger door, Varsalona falling with him to the pavement. Varsalona and others then dragged Chaudhry to safety as flames engulfed the car. Chaudhry, who was not burned, was taken to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.
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