W. John Funk saved Jason M. Young and Samantha L. Redman from burning, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, June 30, 2005. Jason, 16, was the driver of a pickup truck that left the roadway in a rural area at night and crashed into a tree. His passenger, Samantha, 15, was rendered unconscious. Flames broke out at the vehicle, spread along its underside, which was turned up against the tree, and grew high quickly. Funk, 59, lawyer, lived at the scene and heard the accident. Responding, he found Jason starting to exit the vehicle through its rear window. Funk entered the bed of the truck, pulled Jason through the window, and eased him to the ground. Learning that Samantha was still inside the vehicle, Funk went to its driver’s side, which was lower to the ground, and partially entered the cab, head first, through the window of the driver’s door. He grasped Samantha about the arms but found that she was trapped in the wreckage. Funk then asked Jason for help, and, although injured, Jason reached into the truck and freed Samantha’s legs. Funk pulled Samantha from the vehicle and dragged her across the road to safety. Flames soon engulfed the cab. Jason and Samantha were both hospitalized for treatment of their injuries, but neither was burned.
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