CANYON CITY — Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley, at the Grant County Court meeting Feb. 21, presented an award to a John Day man credited with saving the life of a motorist whose car caught fire last fall.

Bob Shive, 81, of Prairie City, was rushed to Blue Mountain Hospital after first responders were dispatched to reports of the vehicle fire around noon that day. Seth Landin, one of several passers-by who stopped to render assistance before emergency responders arrived, broke a window and removed the unresponsive driver from the vehicle after finding the doors locked, McKinley said.

Shive, the director of the DeWitt Museum in Prairie City, was driving an Acura SUV pulling a flatbed trailer on Highway 26 east of John Day when his vehicle filled with smoke, according to McKinley. Shive was able to stop his rig before becoming incapacitated from smoke inhalation, McKinley said.

Landin, who works for Patriot Plumbing, was traveling back to the shop in John Day with his co-worker Garrett Cobb when he saw other vehicles stop to assist Shive’s vehicle.

“I’m just glad that we were at that place at that time and we were able to offer some help,” Landin said.

The fire was put out with an extinguisher obtained from a passing truck driver, McKinley said.

“On behalf of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, this life-saving award is presented to Seth Landin,” McKinley said. “Mr. Landin was working for Patriot Plumbing and came upon a car on Highway 26, east of John Day, that was on fire with the occupant trapped inside. Mr. Landin was able to break a window out of the vehicle and remove the trapped, now unconscious person, John “Bob” Shive, from the smoke and fire-filled car.”

Shive suffered severe smoke inhalation, McKinley said. He was later transported to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, according to Shive’s wife, Ginger.

“Mr. Shive ultimately perished from his injuries Dec. 13, but his family was able to be at his side and share his last days with him because of the quick thinking and actions of Seth Landin on the afternoon of Nov. 27, 2023,” McKinley said. “We appreciate the actions of the citizens of this county stepping forward. Mr. Landin did not have to take action that day, and he chose to and made a huge difference in a family.”

The cause of the fire “appeared accidental,” McKinley said. Ginger Shive said it’s her understanding that a propane torch inside the car may have started the fire.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, the John Day Fire Department, Prairie City first responders and the Oregon Department of Transportation responded to the scene.

Shive’s wife attended the award presentation.

“It was great what that young man did because I think a lot of times, people don’t want to get involved in something unusual,” said Ginger Shive. “I think it took a great deal of courage for him to do what he did. I’m so happy that Todd (McKinley) recognized that courage and has given him recognition for it.”