Trent Edwards helped to rescue Victoria A. Olivarez from burning, Dos Palos, California, June 23, 1995. After a highway accident involving the van in which she was a passenger, Ms. Olivarez, 37, lay partially extended through the windshield of the van, which had overturned and caught fire. Edwards, 80, retired technical school employee, was traveling on the same highway and witnessed the accident. He stopped at the scene and ran to the van, which was becoming engulfed by flame. Edwards grasped Ms. Olivarez by the arms and pulled but was unable to free her. Another man arrived. Using a jacket as a shield against the blistering heat, the other man linked arms with Edwards, and they approached the van. Each of the men grasped Ms. Olivarez by an arm and pulled. They freed her from the wreckage but fell to the ground; regaining their footing, they dragged Ms. Olivarez away from the van. Ms. Olivarez was hospitalized with severe burns and died several hours later. Edwards was taken to the hospital for treatment of first- and second-degree burns to his face, head, and arms.
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