By admin 
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (WJZY) — The Union County Sheriff has credited Joella Meadows and Mandi Tarr, two Porter Ridge High School students, for saving a woman from her burning car in Indian Trail on April 30.
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“That could be anybody in that situation,” said Meadows in an interview with QC News. “That could have been me. That could have been my family member.”
Meadows said Tarr was a passenger in her car when they headed west on Unionville-Indian Trail Road after school, and she noticed smoke coming from under the vehicle in front of her.
“My dad was a mechanic for a bunch of years, and I’ve always known if a car is smoking, something’s wrong,” said Meadows.
Tarr said she quickly noticed that the smoke had turned into flames.
“As soon as we saw it, we were like, we have to get her off the road,” said Tarr.
The girls told QC News that Meadows started honking and eventually pulled to the side of the vehicle being driven by a woman, now identified as Sharon Maggard. Tarr said they pleaded with the woman to get out of her car.
“I think she was so unaware,” said Tarr. She was like, ‘I really have to get out?’ And we were like, you have to get out immediately.”
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Within minutes, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The girls said they called 911 and stayed with Maggard until firefighters arrived at the scene.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Meadows. “I’m an 18-year-old girl. I was never expecting this to happen to me.”
Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said the heroic actions taken by the girls saved Maggard’s life and that he plans to honor them with the UCSO Good Samaritan Award.
The girls, who are friends and cheerleaders for Porter Ridge, said they appreciate the recognition but are glad that Maggard walked away from the scene unharmed.
“If we would have looked back and saw it on the news and just heard it was the lady was in her car, I would have had such like a guilty conscience,” said Tarr.
“I would want somebody to do the exact same thing for me if I was in that situation,” said Meadows.
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