Road paving workers on I-55 at route M jumped to the rescue on July 22 when a vehicle ignited after crashing into a parked construction truck in the closed lanes of the highway.  A 28-year-old DeSoto woman and the one-year-old in her car were travelling north on the Interstate around 11:00 pm.  Millstone Bangert employees Tim Clendenny, Randy Clendenny, Richard Boyd, Travis Prichard, Roy Hovis and Ron Dibler rescued the driver and one-year-old boy.

     “Immediately, Rich Boyd and I rushed to the woman’s car and helped her get out of the vehicle,” said Randy Clendenny.  “She then screamed that a baby was still inside the burning vehicle.  Rich then went inside the burning car and got the one-year-old out of his car seat while the vehicle was on fire.”  After getting everyone out of the burning vehicle, the workers then assisted in putting the fire out.

     The woman and child were taken by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center with moderate to minor injuries and have since been released.  “There is no doubt this heroic deed saved both lives,” said Terry Briggs, a spokesman for SITE Improvement Association, a construction trade association. “The crash is yet another example of why motorists must use extra caution when travelling through highway construction zones at all times.  Ironically, these construction workers are trying to improve the roadways so motorists can arrive at their destinations safer and sooner.    If drivers would just slow down and let the workers do their job, both the drivers and the construction workers can benefit.”