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Man Pulled from Burning Van in Brown County

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A Nebraska man is alive tonight, thanks to a pair of bystanders who pulled him from a burning van.

It happened in Brown County Sunday night.

Sheriff's officials say 74-year-old Lance F. Johnson of Wymore, Nebraska was traveling south on 400th Ave., when his vehicle left the road and continued south bound in the ditch.

Oil or fluid leaked from the van and the vehicle began to burn when it came to a stop.

Two local men, Nick Rients of rural Comfrey and Stetson Shoen of Springfield, were working in nearby fields and came to the rescue.

After trying to extinguish the fire, they pulled Johnson out from the burning van after cutting the seatbelts.

They then moved Johnson to a safe distance from the van.

Johnson was taken to Springfield Hospital by Ambulance, then flown to Regions Hospital burn center with severe burns to his left leg.