Message from sender:
For those who missed my original posting on July 7, 2004
For those who missed my original posting on July 7, 2004
To view this story online, go to:
http://www.newslinkindiana.com/news/00000002545.html
http://www.newslinkindiana.com/news/00000002545.html
Man saved from flames by strangers
By: Jill Crehan
Staff Reporter
Published: 07/07/2004, 20:52:41
Last Updated: 07/07/2004, 22:11:33
Staff Reporter
Published: 07/07/2004, 20:52:41
Last Updated: 07/07/2004, 22:11:33
DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. (NLI) - Todd Buchanan considers himself to lucky to be alive.
Buchanan, who lives and works in Carmel, went home to see his parents for the Fourth of July. On the Fifth of July, the 39-year-old paraplegic man, headed home in his specially equipped handicap van.
When he reached Indiana Highway 67 and the Muncie Bypass his van shut down and the electrical system started to malfunction.
What happened next can only be described as an inferno. The hood of the car burst into flames, leaving Buchanan stuck inside the van.
"You know, the thought crossed my mind, is this where I'm, going to die? It was just for a split second though," said Buchanan.
Passing drivers noticed the smoke coming from the hood and came to Buchanan's rescue.
One man tried to get Buchanan and his wheelchair out of the van. But they had to try to pull Buchanan out without his chair when the vehicl e's emergency systems failed.
Allen Webster of Muncie and Bruce Smith of Portland struggled to get Buchanan and his chair out of the van.
"I didn't want to lose my chair, because it is like my legs," Buchanan said. "But it came to the point where I was like, 'damn, if I don't leave this here, then I'll go down with it.' So, I told the man to forget about it, and they came around and started unstraping me from the chair and pulling me out."
Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. A Muncie Police officer was the first emergency responder on the scene.
"I saw two bystanders trying to help the driver out of the van but pulling on his torso. I went into the van and was able to see that his feet were stuck between the gas and brake petals. So, I went in and got his feet out," said Patrol Officer Kyle Temple.
With the help of Webster and Smith, the men were able to get Buchanan out of his car moments before the driver's side w as engulfed in flames.
They proceeded to carry him to safety, where they were all three examined by EMS workers.
When questioned, Bruce Smith did not remember a police officer at the scene of the incident and helping to carry Buchanan away.
Buchanan, however, clearly remembers Officer Temple arriving, grabbing his legs, and carrying him in a "fireman" position.
When asked if they consider themselves heroes, both Temple and Smith are quick to deny any such title.
"I did what I would do for any human being, it doesn't matter who it was," Smith said.
"I think the majority of the credit goes to the two individuals who were there first," Temple said.
If you were to ask Buchanan what he thought, he would tell you another tale.
"They were knee deep in it, the smoke and the flame, with me and they didn't have to be," Buchanan said. "So, when you see something like that it makes you stop and think there's some good people out there. It makes you feel good about who you are on this earth with."
Surprisingly, none were injured.
In fact, the only signs of the fire, with the exception of the van, are a slight bruise on Temple's left arm and a scratch on Buchanan's left knee.
Even Buchanan's white shoes came out of the fire unscathed.
Astoundingly Buchanan's wheelchair, when pulled from the rubble later, sustained only a little water damage and is still in working condition.
Buchanan, who lives and works in Carmel, went home to see his parents for the Fourth of July. On the Fifth of July, the 39-year-old paraplegic man, headed home in his specially equipped handicap van.
When he reached Indiana Highway 67 and the Muncie Bypass his van shut down and the electrical system started to malfunction.
What happened next can only be described as an inferno. The hood of the car burst into flames, leaving Buchanan stuck inside the van.
"You know, the thought crossed my mind, is this where I'm, going to die? It was just for a split second though," said Buchanan.
Passing drivers noticed the smoke coming from the hood and came to Buchanan's rescue.
One man tried to get Buchanan and his wheelchair out of the van. But they had to try to pull Buchanan out without his chair when the vehicl e's emergency systems failed.
Allen Webster of Muncie and Bruce Smith of Portland struggled to get Buchanan and his chair out of the van.
"I didn't want to lose my chair, because it is like my legs," Buchanan said. "But it came to the point where I was like, 'damn, if I don't leave this here, then I'll go down with it.' So, I told the man to forget about it, and they came around and started unstraping me from the chair and pulling me out."
Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. A Muncie Police officer was the first emergency responder on the scene.
"I saw two bystanders trying to help the driver out of the van but pulling on his torso. I went into the van and was able to see that his feet were stuck between the gas and brake petals. So, I went in and got his feet out," said Patrol Officer Kyle Temple.
With the help of Webster and Smith, the men were able to get Buchanan out of his car moments before the driver's side w as engulfed in flames.
They proceeded to carry him to safety, where they were all three examined by EMS workers.
When questioned, Bruce Smith did not remember a police officer at the scene of the incident and helping to carry Buchanan away.
Buchanan, however, clearly remembers Officer Temple arriving, grabbing his legs, and carrying him in a "fireman" position.
When asked if they consider themselves heroes, both Temple and Smith are quick to deny any such title.
"I did what I would do for any human being, it doesn't matter who it was," Smith said.
"I think the majority of the credit goes to the two individuals who were there first," Temple said.
If you were to ask Buchanan what he thought, he would tell you another tale.
"They were knee deep in it, the smoke and the flame, with me and they didn't have to be," Buchanan said. "So, when you see something like that it makes you stop and think there's some good people out there. It makes you feel good about who you are on this earth with."
Surprisingly, none were injured.
In fact, the only signs of the fire, with the exception of the van, are a slight bruise on Temple's left arm and a scratch on Buchanan's left knee.
Even Buchanan's white shoes came out of the fire unscathed.
Astoundingly Buchanan's wheelchair, when pulled from the rubble later, sustained only a little water damage and is still in working condition.
