Men who pulled father, son from burning car near Naylor honored by highway patrol

NAYLOR, Mo. — A Naylor man and his toddler son are alive today thanks to the efforts of two area men who pulled them from their burning vehicle in October.

For their heroic actions in saving Daniel Scott Mitchell and his 3-year-old son, Decklan, Heath Moon of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Jeffrey Thomas of Naylor were appointed as “honorary” troopers of the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Monday morning.

Each was presented with a plaque, signed by patrol Col. J. Bret Johnson, and an 85th anniversary Troop E pin.

The honorary-trooper certificate is presented to non-employees who perform in an exemplary manner and under dangerous conditions to aid another, Capt. Jeff Vitale said.

The men are the fifth and sixth individuals to receive the honor in Troop E this year.

On Oct. 7, troopers were sent to a motor-vehicle crash and fire in which the occupants were trapped on Highway 142 near Naylor, Vitale said.

During the investigation, it was determined Moon and Thomas risked their “personal safety and well-being by extricating the injured driver and a toddler from inside the burning vehicle,” Vitale said.

When troopers arrived, they found Mitchell lying on the north side of the highway, about 100 feet from the burning vehicle, which had hit a tree, Vitale said. Mitchell, he said, had sustained two broken legs and what was described as a serious head laceration.

Vitale said the toddler, who was secured in his car seat, also was injured. Both were taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Moon, who is a UPS Inc. employee, was in his delivery truck when he drove up on the burning vehicle, Vitale said.

Both, “without regard for their own safety, entered a burning vehicle to save two individuals they did not know,” Vitale said. “... If these men had not acted the way they did, and as quickly as they did, this crash could have had a very different ending.”

Vitale described the men’s actions as “exemplary” and said law enforcement “considers them to be good citizens of the community.”

Vitale said he is certain the Mitchells would not have been able to get out of their burning vehicle without the assistance of Moon and Thomas.

“Their quick response and unselfish disregard for their own personal safety prevented two certain deaths from occurring,” he said.

Moon said instinct took over when he saw the burning vehicle.

“I just jumped out of the truck and jumped into action,” Moon said. “I think anybody else would have done the same thing.”

Thomas, who lived nearby, arrived on the scene not long after Moon.

“I thought someone hit a deer,” said Thomas, who went out to the road to see what had happened. “I could see the smoke coming across my field.”

Moon said he initially removed the toddler and his car seat from the vehicle, handing both to Thomas, who made sure the child was safely away from the burning vehicle.

“He tried to pull the guy out before I did. ... He went in while I was trying to put out the fire. He was trying to get the guy out” but was unsuccessful, Moon said.

Moon said he also initially was unsuccessful in his attempts to remove Mitchell.

“Whenever I got him about halfway out, he got stuck,” Moon said. “Jeff started pulling on me, and together, we both pulled the guy out.”

Thomas said he wasn’t supposed to be home that day but had taken vacation.

“The good Lord put me in the place to help a family in need,” Thomas said.

Pertinent address:

Naylor, Mo.