Karen Marie Mallon saved Addalyn A. Thomas from burning, Benzonia, Michigan, November 1, 2016. Addalyn, a 13-day-old infant, her sisters, 8 and 6, and the girls’ mother were in a vehicle that struck a tow truck head on, traveled off the road, and into a shallow ditch where it caught fire. Mallon, 51, secretary, who was driving on the road, saw the tow truck driver running to the vehicle. Mallon stopped at the scene and learned there were children inside the vehicle. Mallon ran to the passenger side of the vehicle where the tow truck driver was removing the 6-year-old. Mallon noticed an infant car seat in the vehicle’s rear and after entering the rear, passenger-side door discovered an infant in the seat beneath a blanket. Mallon, as heat and smoke increased inside the vehicle, knelt on the seat and, with difficulty, unstrapped the infant from her car seat. Mallon freed Addalyn from the seat, picked her up, and exited the vehicle, carrying her to safety. The vehicle was shortly engulfed by flames. Olivia’s mother and 8-year-old sister did not survive. The 6-year-old and Addalyn sustained minor injuries; neither was burned.
88684 – 9997
88684-9997