Richard A. Russo helped attempt to save Scott W. Handschin from an impending explosion, South Farmingdale, New York, July 22, 1980. Handschin, 25, was pinned in his subcompact automobile after it had flipped onto its driver’s side in an accident. Gasoline flowed from the auto’s fuel tank. Russo, 46, factory foreman, joined three other men in pushing the auto upright after efforts to reach Handschin through the passenger door failed. An explosion engulfed the auto in flames and knocked all four men away. Handschin was blown onto the pavement by the blast. He required hospitalization for extensive and severe burns; Russo was treated for lesser burns and recovered.
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