Thurston Duke rescued Clint A. Folgate from burning, Muncie, Indiana, November 30, 2005. Severely injured and semiconscious, Folgate, 49, remained in the cab of his pickup truck after an accident at night in which the vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, and broke into flames. At his house nearby, Duke, 74, retired manager, heard the accident, and he responded to the scene. Despite high flames issuing from the rear of the pickup and along its driver’s side, Duke approached the passenger side of the vehicle and leaned through the broken-out window of the passenger door. Flames had entered the truck and set fire to Folgate’s clothing. Duke grasped Folgate beneath the arms, pulled him from the vehicle, and dragged him to a point of safety about 20 feet away, where the flames on him were extinguished. Flames soon consumed the truck. Folgate required lengthy hospitalization for treatment of his injuries and extensive and severe burns. Duke suffered minor burns to his hands, and he was treated at the scene. He recovered.
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