Trooper gets man out before van explodes

11/11/2013

ELYRIA, Ohio — An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper is being credited with getting an 86-year-old man out his van shortly before it caught fire and exploded.

A caller reported the van traveling on State Route 10 in northeast Ohio’s Lorain County on Saturday afternoon with smoke pouring from it.

Trooper Josh Grimm responded, pulling over the van and getting driver Joseph Waltz out.

Shortly after Grimm got the Oberlin man back to his patrol car and moved it to block traffic, the van caught fire and exploded. When firefighters were finished, there was nothing left but the frame.

The (Elyria) Chronicle-Telegram reports that Waltz told the trooper he hadn’t experienced any problems with the van. He thought it was just overheating a little when the engine light came on.