Salvador A. López rescued Nicholas B. Reyes from a runaway vehicle, Grand Junction, Colorado, March 5, 2001. Sitting in the driver’s seat, Nicholas, 7, was the sole occupant of a car that, its engine running, was approaching the intersection of a busy, five-lane road. López, 49, a letter carrier on his rounds, was nearby, on the sidewalk, as the car approached him. After jumping out of its way, López ran to the car, which sideswiped another car and continued. Running alongside the car, he reached through the open window of the driver’s door, grasped the steering wheel, and tried to reach the keys in the ignition. Failing also to open the driver’s door, López entered the car headfirst through the window and pulled the car’s emergency brake. The car traveled a few feet more before it impacted the rear of a van at the intersection and stopped. Nicholas had minor bruises from which he recovered. López sustained minor injury to his ribs that required medical attention and partially disabled him for about three weeks. He recovered.
75185 – 8578
75185-8578