LOCAL NEWS

Man narrowly escapes burning van with help of stranger nearby

Dec 10, 2024, 6:53 AM | Updated: 6:56 am

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A man who narrowly survived being burned alive is sharing his story.

Chris Boone, 35, was heading to work when the engine in his van burst into flames.

“You could see it burned the windshield which is a very scary thought of getting that close to me,” Boone said, looking over pictures of his totaled van.

On Wednesday around 7:30 a.m., Boone said he was backing out of his parking stall at his apartment building in South Salt Lake when he noticed something was wrong with his van.

“When I started to go forward, I hit the gas a little bit, and it kind of froze up. So I pumped the gas a little more because it was very cold that morning and I thought maybe it was frozen, and right when I did that, flames popped up out of the engine area,” Boone said.

As a child, Boone had a spinal cord tumor that led to him being unable to walk. He relies on a specialized wheelchair and has a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

As the fire erupted, Boone became trapped inside his van when the ramp for his wheelchair malfunctioned.

“It was an incredibly surreal experience. It took a second for me to even register that it was happening,” Boone said.

A man in a wheelchair narrowly escaped a burning van with the help of a stranger, who heard his cries for help. (Courtesy Kaden Wadsworth)

Meanwhile, Kaden Wardsworth was scraping ice off of his car windows a few parking stalls away, when he noticed “a little trail of fire.”

“I look down the road and I see the van on fire,” Wadsworth said. At first, I was just looking to see if anyone was in the driver’s seat and I didn’t see anybody.”

Wadsworth said he almost walked away from the van but he then heard Boone’s voice.

“I started to yell for help and that’s when Kaden heard me,” Boone said.

“At that point, I still didn’t see him so I was like, ‘Can you get out?’ and he’s like, ‘No. I’m in a wheelchair,’” Wadsworth said. “At that point, I walked around and I was like, ‘Oh my.’”

Wadsworth rushed to rescue Boone. As he pulled Boone out of the van, Wadsworth heard an explosion and saw a fireball disperse from under the hood.

“Luckily, we were both okay and at that moment, we just had to hurry and carry him out,” Wadsworth said. “You don’t think that something like that is going to happen until it does.”

Both men were relieved Wadsworth happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“It was very early in the morning, I don’t think anyone else was out there,” Boone said. “I’m extremely grateful that he was out there and was able to probably save my life.”

Boone also expressed his gratitude for the South Salt Lake firefighters who managed to salvage his wheelchair from the fiery van.

“I was so devastated when I (thought) everything had burned,” Boone said. “The chair would’ve taken months to replace. You have to meet with doctors and physical therapists — this chair was $20,000. It’s a really extensive process.”

According to Boone, the cause of the fire is under investigation and the van was deemed a total loss. Boone said his van was worked on for a broken serpentine belt the week before the incident. He suspects the engine fire started in the same area as the serpentine belt.

KSL has contacted the South Salt Lake Fire Department for more information on their investigation and will update this article as that information becomes available.

Boone’s friends have a *GoFundMe set up to help pay for a new wheelchair-accessible van, which they estimate will cost about $90,000 to replace.


*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Snow in Little Cottonwood Canyon...

Brian Carlson

Troopers urge caution to holiday travelers as winter storms move in

An incoming storm ahead of Presidents' Day weekend could be a bad combination for holiday travelers.

12 minutes ago

Snow covers the mountains during an early season snowstorm in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday,...

Simone Seikaly

Experts issue winter storm warning for Wasatch Back, Park City

Weather forecasters are predicting a winter storm will move into Utah on Thursday and that it will stick around through Saturday.

37 minutes ago

The Utah State Capitol stands in Salt Lake City on the first day of the legislative session on Tues...

Daniella Rivera

‘Damaging’ sexual assault language removed from crime data collection bill

A section in a crime data collection bill filed two weeks ago had sexual assault survivors, experts and advocates sounding alarm bells.

51 minutes ago

The new Weber Metro Cold Case Task Force has gathered files for 29 homicides that remain unsolved. ...

Mike Anderson

Weber Metro Cold Case Task Force takes nonprofit approach to funding resources

A new cold case task force plans to use it's nonprofit status to fundraise their investigation of unsolved homicides.

1 hour ago

West Valley City Police said two people were wounded and another was being detained for questioning...

Andrew Adams

2 injured, 1 detained for questioning in West Valley shooting

Police said two people were wounded and another was being detained for questioning Wednesday after a shooting that left multiple area schools under precautionary “secure” protocols.

3 hours ago

SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: New Kia cars are displayed on the sales lot at San Leandro Kia on...

Shelby Lofton

Kias in North Salt Lake now the target of vehicle break-ins, thefts

Another Utah neighborhood is being targeted for vehicle thefts.

4 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Man narrowly escapes burning van with help of stranger nearby