Brent Kaufman saved Jeffrey D. Miller from burning, Sandy, Oregon, May 22, 1999. At night, Miller, 28, a deputy sheriff, was traveling in his patrol car en route to a call when his vehicle and another collided head on. Miller was severely injured but remained conscious in his car, on which flames broke out in the engine area. He attempted to open the driver’s door, but it was jammed, and he called for help. Kaufman, 25, bartender, was approaching the scene in his vehicle when he saw the burning patrol car. He stopped and, also unable to open the driver’s door, told Miller to extend his arms through the door’s broken-out window. With flames beginning to spread in the interior of the car, Kaufman extended his upper body through the window and grasped Miller about the arms and shoulders. Despite Miller, with equipment, outweighing Kaufman by about 90 pounds, Kaufman pulled on Miller repeatedly before he was able to remove him headfirst through the window. Kaufman then dragged Miller away from the car, which shortly was engulfed by flames that consumed ammunition inside. Miller was hospitalized for three weeks for treatment of his injuries.
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