Stephen Zarhardt, 59, plumber, helped to save Edward C. Mener, 61, from burning, North Plainfield, New Jersey, July 29, 1966. A tractor-trailer struck the rear of Mener’s two-door sedan, badly damaging the automobile and rupturing the fuel tank. Mener was injured and slumped unconscious on the seat as flames broke out on both vehicles and on the roadway beneath them. The driver of the truck escaped as Zarhardt ran to the door of the sedan. He was joined by William F. Healy. They tried without success to open the door at the driver’s side. Flames filled most of the rear compartment, and heat was intense. Zarhardt then extended his head and shoulders through the window opening and drew Mener to the door. As Zarhardt withdrew except for one arm, Healy also reached into the sedan and took hold of Mener. They lifted Mener partly through the window opening but could not remove him because his legs were caught under the steering wheel. Zarhardt and Healy each freed one leg of Mener. They then pulled him through the window opening and carried him away from the wreckage. They were about 40 feet from the sedan when there was an explosive spread of flames which filled the automobile and rose 10 to 15 feet into the air. Mener was hospitalized for his injuries and later suffered a fatal heart attack.
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