Life-saving Firefighter from New York Becomes America's Most Wanted All-Star Finalist

Cited For Heroic Actions at the Scene of a Deadly Accident

A dedicated, life-saving firefighter from New York state has been chosen by the public as the latest weekly finalist in the 2008 America's Most Wanted All-Star Contest, sponsored by Sprint.

Jeff Wheeler is the Assistant Chief of the Waverly/Barton Fire District in Waverly, NY. On June 5, 2007, he was the first commander to arrive on the scene of a deadly accident at a highway construction zone. Two tractor-trailers had collided head-on, and a third had swerved into the wreckage. The accident left one man dead, another seriously hurt, and a third severely burned. In order to save the burning victim, who was on fire and running, Assistant Chief Wheeler had to chase and tackle him to put out the flames.

Jeff Wheeler becomes the sixth of eight weekly finalists to be chosen by the public in the AMW All-Star Contest, which honors the nation's first responders. Any first responder, such as police officer, firefighter or EMT, is eligible for the contest, and any member of the public can nominate and vote for their favorite first responder online at AMW.com.

Each weekly finalist will be profiled on America's Most Wanted (Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT on FOX). In May, through online voting, the public will choose the grand prize winner. AMW Host John Walsh will present the 2008 AMW All-Star winner with a check for $10,000 at the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series™ All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Members of the public can vote for their favorite All-Stars once a day, every day. Finalist voting runs until April 13 at midnight, and the Grand Prize winner voting will run from April 17 to May 6.

Contact:
Steve Katz
skatz@amw.com