[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 35 (Thursday, March 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E375-E376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SALVADOR LOPEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to 
recognize a very brave man who put his own personal safety at risk to 
protect the life of another. On March 5th Salvador Lopez saved a young 
7 year old boy from serious injury or worse when the Postal Carrier 
rescued him from behind the wheel of a pickup truck that was fast 
heading toward a busy intersection. Mr. Lopez's gallant act deserves 
the recognition of this body. With this in mind, I would like to place 
in the Congressional Record the following article from the Grand 
Junction Daily Sentinel, written by Alex Taylor.

       It was a nice day for delivering the mail. The sun was out 
     and the temperature was mild. Salvador Lopez was having a 
     pretty pleasant day on the job as the postman in the area of 
     North Seventh and Orchard Avenue on Monday afternoon . . . 
     Shortly after 3 p.m., Lopez had to leap off the sidewalk when 
     he saw a car veering toward him traveling in the wrong 
     direction on Orchard.
       Behind the wheel were two wide eyes just barely gaping over 
     the dashboard. Apparently 7-year-old Nicholas Reyes thought 
     it was so nice out he'd go for his first-ever drive through 
     the neighborhood. `I was going down the sidewalk delivering 
     the mail when I heard a noise,' said Lopez. `I looked up and 
     saw the car coming at me. I could see by the boy's eyes in 
     the car that something was wrong, it was just the look on his 
     face. I jumped out of the way.'

[[Page E376]]

       After narrowly missing Lopez, Reyes turned to the right and 
     was driving across Orchard. The vehicle he was driving headed 
     toward a car stopped at the intersection. Lopez dropped his 
     mail and dashed across the street to save the boy. He reached 
     through the window and turned the wheel just before impact.
       The car side-swiped the other car in the intersection, and 
     was headed towards another vehicle when Lopez leaped back 
     through the window and yanked on the emergency brake. He 
     stopped the car just in time as it gently hit the next in 
     line and came to a stop. Lopez estimated the boy had been 
     idling along at about 5 mph to 10 mph.
       The boy was taken to the hospital minutes later with minor 
     injuries to his face. Lopez injured his ribs when diving 
     through the window, but the injury was not serious . . .
       As you can see, Mr. Speaker, Salvador risked his health to 
     save the life of this young boy. He has made us all--
     particularly his wife Gloria, his children Yma, Sergio, 
     Isabelle, and Mario, and his co-workers at the Post Office--
     very proud.

     

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