Ryan W. Derry helped to rescue Abilsai Morales-Roblero from burning, Portland, Oregon, August 30, 2008. Unconscious, Morales-Roblero, 20, was trapped in the front passenger seat of a sport utility vehicle that crashed into a hillside at night. The back end of the vehicle caught fire, and flames spread into the passenger compartment. Derry, 34, on duty as a police officer, responded to the scene and approached the passenger side of the burning vehicle. Another motorist had helped to open the front passenger door and had attempted to free Morales-Roblero from the wreckage, and he was calling for a knife to cut his safety belt. As flames had reached the back of the front seats and issued high off the rear of the vehicle, Derry extended his upper body through the passenger door with a knife and freed Morales-Roblero of his safety belt. The two rescuers then grasped Morales-Roblero by the arms, pulled him out, and moved him away shortly before flames grew to engulf the vehicle. Two other occupants of the vehicle died at the scene. Morales-Roblero was hospitalized for treatment of severe injuries, which included second-degree burns. Derry sustained a minor burn to a forearm, and he recovered.
81649 – 9306
81649-9306