Pawel L. Kruszewski saved David W. and Ronald R. Call and Robert Hack from burning, Auburn, Maine, September 10, 2013. David, 40, and Ronald, 48, were passengers in a sport utility vehicle being driven by Hack, 43. In an accident on a rural road, the vehicle left the roadway and, overturning, came to rest on its roof. Kruszewski, 28, production supervisor, drove upon the scene and stopped. When flames then broke out on the exposed underside of the vehicle, Kruszewski opened the rear, passenger-side door and extended his upper body inside. He grasped David and pulled him from the vehicle. David walked to safety. Kruszewski then fully entered the vehicle, grasped Ronald by the arm, and, helping him from the front seat into the back-seat area, pulled him out to safety. Despite flames spreading on the vehicle’s underside, Kruszewski entered a third time to find Hack inverted in the driver’s seat, secured by his safety belt and wreckage. Kruszewski released the safety belt and maneuvered Hack to the rear-seat area. With help from Ronald, Kruszewski pulled Hack from the vehicle and walked him away. The vehicle was shortly engulfed by flames. The three victims suffered minor injuries, and Kruszewski sustained lacerations to a hand. He recovered.
85929 – 9721
85929-9721