Kenneth A. Hanlon saved Joseph A. Thiverge and attempted to save Kevin Knapton from burning, Raith, Ontario, July 18, 1970. When a trailer truck went off the highway at night and tipped over onto its side, diesel oil from the ruptured fuel tanks caught fire. The driver had been thrown out, but Kevin and Joseph, each 15, high school students, were trapped in the cab. Hanlon, 40, truckdriver, stopped his rig nearby and ran to the front of the overturned truck. Standing within two feet of the flames, he reached through the opening left by the broken windshield and tried in vain to free Kevin. He then grasped Joseph and succeeded in removing him from the cab. Hanlon reached back in and again took hold of Kevin. There were flames around the latter’s feet as Hanlon attempted without success to free him. Heat became intense. Increased flames shot up near Hanlon, forcing him to retreat. He was 40 feet from the truck when an explosive spread of flames engulfed the cab, resulting in the death of Kevin.
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