William H. Peck saved Carolyn M. Conarton from burning and an impending explosion, Holt, Michigan, June 8, 1961. When Carolyn, 17, lost control of her four-door sedan at night, the vehicle veered from the highway, struck a tree, and turned over onto its top. The automobile caught fire, and Carolyn, who had sustained injuries was thrown into the rear compartment. From his dwelling at the opposite side of the highway, Peck, 33, power company tree trimmer, saw the burning sedan and heard Carolyn scream. Peck moved his own automobile so that its headlights shone on the overturned vehicle, from which flames were rising 10 feet into the air at the front end. He then ran to the sedan and without success attempted to put out the flames with a small fire extinguisher. Unable to open the jammed door, he kicked out its window. Heat was intense. Although the steering wheel hindered him somewhat, Peck thrust his upper body through the window opening and into the front section of the sedan. Reaching into the rear compartment, he took hold of Carolyn and pulled her from the automobile. Flames then rose as high as 15 feet in front of the windshield. Peck carried Carolyn to safety as each of the tires blew out because of the heat. Within several minutes the fuel tank exploded and completely enveloped the sedan in flames. Firemen soon arrived and extinguished them. Carolyn was hospitalized for her injuries and recovered.
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