Minnesota hero uses bare hands to free driver of burning SUV

By Jonathan Kaminsky

(Reuters) - A Minnesota man used his bare hands to pry open a passenger-side door of a burning sport utility vehicle and save a trapped motorist from near-certain death, police said Tuesday.

The incident has left police marveling at the actions of Bob Renning, 52, who - apparently fueled by a burst of adrenaline - pried open the door of Minneapolis resident Michael Johannes's 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer on Sunday evening.

"To say his actions were heroic would be putting it lightly," said Lieutenant Eric Roeske, spokesman for the Minnesota State Patrol. "He almost certainly saved Mr. Johannes from a horrible death."

Renning was driving along an interstate freeway at about 6:30 p.m. CDT when he noticed the SUV on fire in a suburb north of Minneapolis, Roeske said.

After motioning for Johannes to pull over, Renning approached the burning vehicle, Roeske said.

Johannes, 51, tried to get out on his own, but the electrical system was disabled and he could not unlock the doors, Roeske said.

That is when Renning bent open the top of the passenger door, cleared the shattered glass from the window and pulled Johannes to safety, Roeske said. Soon after, the truck was entirely engulfed in flames.

Johannes escaped the incident with minor injuries, and the cause of the fire is not yet clear, Roeske said.

"Vehicle fires get hot incredibly fast and oftentimes the opportunity for rescue is very short," Roeske said. "It was a good thing Mr. Renning was there and able to pry that door open."

(Reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky in New Orleans; editing by Gunna Dickson)

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Good Samaritan rescues man from burning SUV

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. (AP) — A Good Samaritan showed "superhuman strength" when he bent the door of a burning sport utility vehicle and rescued another motorist on a Minnesota freeway, a state trooper said.

Bob Renning, 52, of Woodbury was driving with his girlfriend on Interstate 35W in New Brighton Sunday evening when he noticed the vehicle driving behind him was on fire.

Renning told the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1m51GUH ) that he stopped about 200 feet in front of the SUV as it pulled over. Renning said he sprinted to the car as he saw flames and smoke "rolling around" the SUV. His girlfriend called 911.

When Renning reached the SUV, the flames had intensified and the interior was filled with smoke. He couldn't see anyone inside. He pulled on the door handle, but it wouldn't open. He then spotted Michael Johannes frantically pounding and kicking against the passenger-side window.

Johannes couldn't open the door after the locks and power windows failed.

Renning, who said he is not especially fit, gripped the top of the door frame with his fingertips, braced his foot against the door and pulled. The door then bent in half and the glass shattered, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

This image taken from video made Monday, June 30, 2014, shows Bob Renning, 52, posed at his home in  …

Renning, a member of the Air National Guard, said he doesn't know how he pried the door open.

State Trooper Zachary Hill, who was quickly on the scene, said Renning displayed "superhuman strength" in the rescue.

"I don't think I could take a crowbar and fold the door like he did," Hill said.

Johannes said he had no idea someone was trying to rescue him. He said he was holding his breath and believed he was going to die.

"Thirty seconds later and I would have been done," said Johannes, who was treated for a cut to his head and smoke inhalation.

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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

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