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Truck Fire Victim: 'It Felt Like Hell'

Man Talks About Ordeal

POSTED: 6:19 pm EDT August 13, 2003
UPDATED: 9:41 am EDT August 14, 2003

Almost two weeks after a deadly paint truck fire, one of the survivors is talking about what happened that day.

Video

Thirteen men were riding in the back of an RPT Painting box truck along Interstate 465 when it caught fire July 29. Two were killed from the injuries suffered in the fire.

Tommy McElory was one of the eleven other workers who suffered severe burns in the fire. He was released from the hospital Wednesday after 70 percent of his right leg from his knee to his ankle was burned in the fire. McElroy also suffered second-degree burns from his hands to his shoulders and on both arms, and third-degree burns on the backs of his calves.

McElroy, 26, had the farthest seat from the door, RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported.

"I don't know how it was ignited. I remember the flames going up and me trying to get out of there," McElory (pictured, right) said. "I just seen orange and red all around me, and I could feel it burning. I was just trying to do what I could do to get out.

Tommy McElroy

It felt like hell. I've never felt nothing like that before in my life, and I pray to God that I don't have to feel nothing like that again. It was bad," McElroy said.

McElroy wasn't even supposed to be in the truck, Rinehart reported. The truck for his eight-man paint crew broke down, so they piled into a truck with another crew to head back to the shop in Johnson County.

McElroy said he remembers his crew mates smoking, and he remembers the paint thinner spilling in the back of the truck, but he has no recollection of how he made it out alive.

"I remember the truck being on fire and trying to get out. I don't remember how I got out of the back of the truck. I remember standing on the side of the highway, somebody pouring water on me," McElroy said.

McElroy's cousin was one of the coworkers who were hospitalized from the fire, and recently had his gall bladder removed because of chronic fevers after skin graft surgeries, Rinehart reported.

"I'm praying for them (coworkers). I hope they get better, and I'm ready to see all of them," McElory said.

McElroy went home to join his wife and two children, Rinehart reported.

Two patients are still being treated at Riley Hospital. One is in critical condition and the other is in fair condition, RTV6 reported.

Wishard Hospital doctors are treating three patients in critical condition and one in fair condition.

Fort Wayne Hospital officials are treating two patients in critical condition.

Two lawsuits have been filed against the paint company on behalf of two of the victims, RTV6 reported.


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