Timothy V. Smith helped to rescue Marion E. Petro from burning, Florence, Oregon, September 12, 1998. Ms. Petro, 71, was the passenger of a 35-foot motorhome that, at night, was involved in a head-on collision with an automobile, the occupants of which were killed. In the accident, the car slid beneath the motorhome, and flames broke out immediately on the wreckage and spread and grew quickly. Another motorist, Smith, 55, retired machinist, witnessed the accident. He approached the front of the motorhome, where he saw Ms. Petro in the area of the driver’s seat. He shouted at her to jump from the vehicle, through its windshield opening. Ms. Petro did so, dropping into flames at the front of the motorhome where she then lay on her back on the pavement. Smith approached the motorhome, and, exposing himself to the flames, grasped Ms. Petro and pulled her out of the fire. He and others put out flames on Ms. Petro’s attire, then moved her away from the motorhome, which was shortly engulfed by flames and destroyed. Ms. Petro sustained severe burns and other injury, for which she required hospitalization. Smith also required hospital treatment, for first- and second-degree burns to his arms and face.
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