Firefighters are crediting local residents with saving the life of a motorist whose vehicle crashed near 8080 N. County Road 250W at 10:14 p.m. Thursday.
Russ Jones and his son Loren ran outside their home after the family called 911 after hearing a loud crash at the same time the power went out to their home, said German Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Matt Lynch.
Russ Jones told firefighters there was a small fire underneath the car, which had overturned on its side, Lynch said. Power lines were down near the vehicle.
The father and son pulled the driver out of the back window to the side of the road before the car became fully engulfed in flames, Lynch said. They then moved the driver even further away from the fire and power lines, he said.
A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy arrived and provided first aid to the driver and the German Township and Clifford Fire Department worked on the car fire, Lynch said. The driver was taken to the hospital and Bartholomew REMC was called to replace the pole and restore power.
“Had it not been for the quick and brave actions of the Jones family, the car crash probably would have resulted in a fatality,” Lynch said.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
