William Joseph Clark saved Anna Etta and Charley J. Sutton from burning, Homewood, Alabama, January 8, 1964. When their two-door sedan was struck from behind by a truck, the Suttons were thrown onto the rear seat. Mrs. Sutton, 69, was in shock, while her husband, 73, was unconscious. The fuel tank was ruptured, and flames which broke out at the rear corner spread over the driver’s side of the sedan. Clark, 35, cable splicer, ran 60 feet to the automobile but was driven back by a gust of flames which singed his hair. As the flames spread onto the top of the sedan and rose five feet into the air, Clark ran to the other side which still was free of flames. He jerked the door open and thrust his head and shoulders into the sedan, which was filled with smoke. He took hold of Mrs. Sutton and with much difficulty pulled her from the automobile. A man aided him in carrying her away. Although he expected the fuel tank to explode at any time, Clark ran back to the sedan. With one foot inside, he extended his upper body into the rear section and pulled Sutton to the door. Sutton’s foot became caught, but Clark forcibly pulled it free and drew him out of the sedan. As the other man aided in carrying Sutton away, the rear tires blew out. The Suttons recovered from burns which they had sustained.
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