Monticello man helps rescue in fiery crash

     Sometimes is it all about being in the right place at the right time.

     That is exactly how Dave Schenck, Jr.’s afternoon went on March 7.

     Schenck, of Monticello, was on Interstate 80 near Coralville that afternoon, running service calls for the company he works for, A&E Factory Service. Around 1:30 p.m., he witnessed a 2006 Toyota Tacoma rear end a 2001 Toyota Tacoma that was pulled over on the shoulder of the Interstate.

     “I literally watched him plow behind the first Toyota,” he recalled. “I watched it happen.”

     Schenck said the 2001 Toyota, which had two people inside, was immediately engulfed in flames.

     “It just happened so quickly,” he said. “It couldn’t have been more than a couple of minutes.”

     Well, Schenck’s instinct kicked in, and having been right behind the first vehicle, he immediately jumped out of his car and ran to the fiery crash site.

     “I started to pick up my phone,” he said of dialing 9-1-1, but I jumped out instead.” Schenck figured there were enough people seeing this happen that could call 9-1-1.

     Just as he got to the vehicle, the driver had escaped the smoke-filled car on his own. However, Schenck didn’t know if there was a passenger still inside.

     “The driver was motioning toward the car,” he said as if someone was still inside. “He was frantic and didn’t speak much English.” So Schenck ran to the passenger side, and through all of the black smoke felt around for clothing or something to grab onto.

     “I just grabbed and jerked,” he said.

     Thankfully, the massive cloud of smoke was blowing the opposite direction, allowing Schenck to approach the passenger side.

     The passenger was unconscious at first, Schenck said.

     “There was no way he could have escaped on his own.”

     During this time, Schenck said other drivers who pulled over started walking up to the accident scene, not sure what was going on.

     Within five minutes or more, he said emergency crews showed up on scene as well.

     “It seemed like a long time,” he said before medical help arrived.

     Schenck, who has no rescue or emergency training or background, said his instinct just kicked in after seeing the accident.

     “It was like it didn’t even happen,” he said.

     He said one thing about the timing of the accident, around 1:30 p.m., was that traffic along I-80 was light. However, the two vehicles did end up blocking both lanes of the interstate.

     In terms of what caused the 2001 Toyota to burst into flames, Schenck said it was half on and off the roadway. The 2006 Toyota ran into one side of the vehicle, puncturing the gas tank and exhaust.

     “It was an intense fire,” he said.

     Shortly after the initial burst, the tires also blew out.

     Traffic was blocked on I-80 for 45 minutes to an hour.

     Schenck also figured the driver of the 2006 Toyota must have been distracted while driving, not knowing how he didn’t see the vehicle on the side of the road.

     As for injuries himself, Schenck said he came away with singed eyebrows and a minor burn on his hand.

     “They were just lucky that I was the first one there,” he said. “There was no way to tell whether there was a kid or not in the vehicle.”

     Schenck said following that accident, which made the evening news, he’s more aware of his surroundings on the roadway, now watching for distracted drivers more than anything.

     “Things happen so fast,” he said.

     He said, looking back on March 7, he’s not sure why anyone wouldn’t have done the same in attempting to save those in the vehicle.

     After videos of the accident were posted on social media, many people commented on them, asking if anyone was hurt, who might have been involved. But one comment stood out from an onlooker: “David Schenck, Jr.  is a hero. He put his life second and ran directly into the fire and pulled the gentleman out of the truck, I watched firsthand. You sir, prove that superheroes exist!”

     According to the Iowa State Patrol crash report, the two people, ages 24 and 39, in the 2001 Toyota were transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for their injuries. No charges have been filed.