William J. Lewis III saved Woodrena A. Ellis from burning, Thomasville, Georgia, December 22, 1993. Ms. Ellis, 28, was the driver and sole occupant of a car that, at night, left the highway, overturned, and caught fire. Lewis, 17, high school student, heard the accident from a nearby house. He ran to the scene and opened the driver’s door of the inverted car. Although flames issued from the exposed underside of the car and had started on its dashboard, Lewis extended his upper body inside. He seized Ms. Ellis and removed her from the car. Understanding from Ms. Ellis that children were in the car, Lewis returned to it and, as flames spread, extended his body up to his feet inside. Not seeing anyone, he exited. When firefighters arrived shortly, the car was engulfed in flames. Ms. Ellis required hospital treatment for injury sustained in the accident.
69212-7942William J. Lewis, III
Thomasville, GA