DETROIT, MI -- About 99,960 more petition signatures to go and Deborah Hughes of Detroit could be in the running for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A St. Clair Shore man asking only to be identified as Marc nominated Hughes for the award Thursday.

Hughes, a retired nurse, is credited with helping to stop the brutal beating of Steven Utash, a 54-year-old father of three from Roseville, on April 2.

Marc said he wants Hughes to receive her just recognition for her act of bravery at the risk of her own life.

Police say Utash was attacked by up to 12 people after he accidentally struck 10-year-old David Harris, who walked in front of his pickup on Morang near Balfour in Detroit. Utash exited his vehicle to check on the boy when the beating ensued.

Harris suffered a broken leg.

Hughes said she looked out her apartment window not far from the accident and responded, initially to help the boy. She claims as many as 100 onlookers observed as up to a dozen people stomped on and beat Utash. She approached and ordered the attackers to stop, which they eventually did before fleeing.

Utash, eight days after the attack, remains unconscious and in critical condition.

The petition for Hughes to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom may be signed here.

Once there are 150 signatures, it becomes visible on the White House We the People open petitions website, which increases the chances that it will reach the 150,000 signatures required for the White House to even review it.

Oprah Winfrey won the Presidential Medial of Freedom in 2013.