(Source: Carriage Towne News)
July 03--Five Kalispell-area residents saved a man's life early Wednesday morning while returning from a mission trip to Tucson, Ariz.
Pastor Steve Snipstead of Faith Free Lutheran Church said the five were driving from Spokane International Airport to Kalispell when they spotted a smoking vehicle just east of St. Regis on I-90. The car had been driven into a tree, Snipstead said.
The five, which included three teens and two adults, got out of their vehicle to help. Kayla Kjos, 25, was first to the car. She saw the man inside move.
The other four got him out with some difficulty after he caught on fire.
The two front doors of the vehicle were damaged and wouldn't open, Snipstead said. After the man's shirt and hair caught on fire, members of the group were able to smother the flames with a blanket that was in the back seat.
Mike Druesdow unbuckled the victim and pushed back the front seat, Snipstead said. The group then pulled the man, 54-year-old Larry Drake, through a rear door to safety.
"It was just a race against the flames," Snipstead said. The group administered first aid to Drake until a quick response unit arrived on scene. He was flown to Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle.
"I'm really proud of this team. They did everything right," said Snipstead, who has pastored the church since 1987.
In addition to Kjos and Druesdow, others on the mission team were Cheri Nelson, Ashley Sonju and Amy Snipstead.
