Roy A. Hart helped to rescue Victoria A. Olivarez from burning, Dos Palos, California, June 23, 1995. After a highway accident involving the van in which she was a passenger, Ms. Olivarez, 37, lay partially extended through the windshield of the van, which had overturned and caught fire. Hart, 55, contractor, was traveling on the same highway and saw the van, which was becoming engulfed by flame. He stopped at the scene, where another man asked him to help remove Ms. Olivarez. Using a jacket as a shield against the blistering heat, Hart linked arms with the other man, and they approached the van. Each of the men grasped Ms. Olivarez by an arm and pulled. They freed her from the wreckage but fell to the ground; regaining their footing, they dragged Ms. Olivarez away from the van. Ms. Olivarez was hospitalized with severe burns and died several hours later. Hart sustained minor burns to his face and fingers; he recovered.
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