Highway Maintenance Worker

Department of Transportation

1/17/1977

Special Act Award (Gold)

Amado Luis Salinas saved Alfredo and Angela Leon from burning, Coachella, California, January 17, 1977. In a highway accident, a two-door sedan containing Leon, 24, and his pregnant wife Angela, 20, was struck from behind by a truck, resulting in the fuel tank being ruptured and flames breaking out at the rear of the automobile. Salinas, 41, highway maintenance worker, ran to the sedan, the rear-seat section of which was filled with flames. He opened the driver's door and then aided Leon away from the automobile. Running back to the sedan, where heat was intense, Salinas extended his upper body into the front-seat section, grasped Mrs. Leon, and pulled her out of the automobile. Shortly afterward an explosive spread of flames completely engulfed the sedan.