Robert M. Hosey

Robert M. Hosey helped to rescue Mercedes C. Ramos from burning, East Patchogue, New York, April 20, 2018. Ramos, 19, was trapped inside a burning sport utility vehicle after an accident in which the hood of her vehicle became wedged beneath a truck. Flames broke out on the vehicle’s hood and spread to its interior. Hosey, 38, construction worker, stopped at the scene and ran to the vehicle, where a police officer was attempting to open the rear, driver’s-side door. Hosey thrust his hand through the broken-out window of that door and, with difficulty, released the lock mechanism and opened it. Working with the officer, Hosey grasped Ramos, who was in the front seat, and pulled her to where he was sitting at the center of the back seat. Hosey and the officer then removed her from the vehicle. Another man joined them and helped move Ramos away from the vehicle, which was shortly engulfed by flames. Ramos sustained second-degree burns to her legs and a broken ankle. Hosey was treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.