Local passerby saves Prairie City man from vehicle fire
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Featured Stories More Top Stories
JOHN DAY/PRAIRIE CITY – On Monday, at approximately 12:13 P.M., the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, John Day Fire Department, Oregon State Police and Prairie City emergency medical personnel were all dispatched to a vehicle fire on Highway 26, near milepost 168. Find the full press release from Sheriff Todd McKinley below:
(Press Release from Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley)
A report of a vehicle on fire near Pine Creek on Highway 26, led to the response of multiple agencies and impressive actions by a passerby.
John (Bob) Shive, 81 of Prairie City, was west bound on Highway 26 near mile post 168, when his vehicle filled with smoke. Shive was able to stop the car, a 2010 Acura SUV, but then was incapacitated by the noxious smoke.
Passersby stopped to help, and Seth Landin, a Patriot Plumbing employee, took the initiative and broke out the vehicles window (the doors were locked) and located Shive, now unresponsive, in the driver’s seat.
Landin removed Shive from the vehicle and the fire was extinguished with an extinguisher obtained from a passing truck driver. Without these actions by Landin, there is a high possibility that Shive would have perished.
Blue Mt. Hospital Ambulances were out on other calls, so Shive was transported to the Hospital by the Sheriff, with John Day Fire Chief Don Gabbard assisting.
Shive suffered severe smoke inhalation and burns to his upper body.
The fire is under investigation but appears accidental.
The Oregon State Police, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Prairie City First Responders, John Day Fire Department, and ODOT all responded to the scene. The Grant County Emergency Communications Center took the initial call.
The vehicle was removed by Frontier Towing out of Mt. Vernon.
