A truck driver saved an Edinburgh man’s life by pulling him out of his burning car.
Damon Duncan, Columbus, was making deliveries in his truck about 10 p.m. Sunday in Bartholomew County when he noticed a car weaving. Duncan called 911 as he saw the car go into a field, where it overturned and caught fire, he said.
He pulled Nathan D. Wilson, 28, Edinburgh, out of the driver’s side window as fire began to engulf the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro.
“It started out a little fire, but the gas was coming inside the car,” Duncan said. “I knew as soon as the flames got to the inside of the car, it was going to go.”
Duncan, 48, got Wilson away from the car, made sure dispatchers knew that an ambulance and fire truck were needed and waited until Wilson was was loaded into an ambulance.
Wilson told emergency workers that he remembered running off the roadway, but didn’t know what caused the accident. Wilson had back pain and injuries to his knees, deputies said. Wilson was treated at Columbus Regional Hospital and released, hospital officials said Monday.
Duncan believes his firefighter training with the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department kicked in when he saw the car overturn and catch fire.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “It just kind of came back — one of those things — the adrenaline and everything, I just did it.”
Sheriff’s deputies at the scene credited Duncan with saving Wilson because there were no other vehicles around.
“Deputies often respond to dangerous situations because it’s our job, it’s what we do,” Sheriff Matt Myers said.
“This gentleman put his life on the line, without a second’s hesitation because it was the right thing to do. In all probability, Mr. Wilson is alive today because this man stepped in and pulled him from his burning vehicle.”
Police are still investigating the accident.