Men rescued from burning truck

7/8/2008
PALCO — Allan Bingham is proud of his son’s actions in helping rescue two Hill City men from their burning vehicle after a crash Saturday.

The victims remained hospitalized Tuesday at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center, one in fair condition, the other critical, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Bingham, of Hill City, said his son, Kansas National Guard private Leighton Bingham, helped get Chad Miller, 24, and James Morris, 30, away from their burning pickup, called 911 and stayed with the men until help arrived.

The wreck happened before 4:20 a.m. on Kansas Highway 18, just north of Palco, said an employee of Anderson Drilling. The two men were in a company pickup when it wrecked. Morris works as a driller for the company.

Rooks County Sheriff’s representatives said the crash remained under investigation Tuesday. They would not release any details concerning the victims or who was driving.

Dorothy Miller of Hill City, Chad Miller’s grandmother, said her grandson was wearing a seat belt. She said she did not know if Morris was buckled in.

Leighton Bingham was with other guard members traveling to South Dakota Tuesday and could not be reached.

Allan Bingham said his son came across the wreck as he was going to pick up his girlfriend and take her to her home at Damar, a few miles west of Palco.

Leighton Bingham stopped when he saw flames coming from the pickup that had overturned in the ditch, Bingham said.

Bingham said he was told Morris had serious burns from the crash, while Miller had a skull fracture and a concussion. The St. Francis spokeswoman said Miller was in fair condition while Morris was critical.



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