Shane D. Scott rescued Drew C. Delis from burning, Bishop, California, August 9, 2010. Delis, 22, was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle that overturned onto its roof and caught fire in a highway accident. Driving nearby, Scott, 33, a deputy sheriff on duty, saw flames from the scene in his vehicle’s rearview mirror. He responded to the scene and approached the sport utility vehicle, which was then engulfed by flames. Hearing screaming, he obtained his fire extinguisher and, using it against the flames, saw Delis moving in the cargo area of the burning vehicle. Scott approached the rear window on the passenger side of the vehicle, knelt, and extended his upper body through the window opening. He grasped Delis but lost his grip during a burst of heat. In a second attempt, Scott pulled Delis through the window and moved him to the highway shoulder. Delis required extensive hospitalization for treatment of severe burns. Three of the vehicle’s other occupants sustained fatal injuries, as did the driver of a van involved in the accident. Scott received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation, and he recovered.
83691 – 9511
83691-9511