In today's busy world, we don't often hear about recipients of a good deed taking time to formally thank a Good Samaritan. Two California residents made it a point to return to Yosemite National Park recently to thank a ranger they credit with saving their lives.

On May 26, 2009, James Bachman and Dorothy Hovland were leaving Yosemite National Park and headed home to Huntington Beach, California in Bachman's truck. After Bachman pulled into a dirt pullout along Highway 41, his truck slid off the road and tumbled approximately 40 feet down the hillside, coming to rest of its side.

Other visitors who had witnessed the accident flagged down NPS Ranger Dan Abbe, who was on his way to work in Yosemite Valley. Abbe was informed that there was a vehicle over the side of the road, that people were inside—and the vehicle was on fire.

According to a park report shortly after the incident,

Abbe made his way down to the truck, and noticed that the engine compartment was on fire, but Bachman and Hovland were unable to open the door to their vehicle. Abbe climbed onto the truck and was able to pry the door open allowing Bachman and Hovland to escape from the vehicle.

As Ranger Abbe was helping the occupants to a safe location away from the truck and trailer, they told him the truck was filled with 70 gallons of gasoline, they had an extra 50 gallon gas container, and the trailer had two full propane tanks. He then took the visitors through thick brush further away from the vehicle and back up to the roadway.

At this point, Abbe noticed the passenger compartment was filling with smoke and he heard crackling noises. Within minutes, the truck and trailer were fully engulfed in flames and a fire, covering about 1/4 of an acre, had started.

The fire was suppressed and Ranger Abbe and the park visitors were transported to the Yosemite Medical Clinic, where all three were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries and released. The truck and trailer were a total loss.

On June 25, 2009, Bachman and Hovland returned to Yosemite and presented a plaque to Abbe.

“If it wasn’t for Dan, we wouldn’t have been able to get out of the vehicle. The engine started on fire while we were still inside. Once Dan got us out, the fire got bigger. He is a very special person and we are alive because of him,” said Bachman during the presentation.

“We are so appreciative of the effort James and Dorothy have taken to recognize one of our Park Rangers. This level of gratitude is rarely expressed by visitors and we are so thankful to have a Ranger like Dan Abbe on our staff,” said Acting Deputy Superintendent Jim Hammet, during the event.