Todd Buchanan

TODD BUCHANAN -- (House of Representatives - July 07, 2004)

(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, one can scarcely imagine a more horrifying and terrifying experience than what happened yesterday to Todd Buchanan as his van coasted with its electrical systems failing on Indiana State Road 67. Todd Buchanan is a 39-year-old quadriplegic. The electrical system in his van not only failed, but the sparks ignited a flame; and he sat helpless, unable to extricate himself from his vehicle with no one in sight.

At that moment with smoke and flames beginning to emit from the hood of the car, Allen Webster passing by pulled his car over and immediately began to reach into the flames and into the smoke to extricate him. Muncie police officer Kyle Temple joined as well as nearly a dozen passersby, and one police officer fought through the flames to their own injury to extricate Todd Buchanan safely.

The Bible says "No greater love has a man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends." Todd Buchanan is alive this morning and grateful to Allen Webster, Officer Kyle Temple, and many others because they brought this proverb to life and showed no greater love on Highway 67 yesterday, and they are rightly remembered on this floor of this Congress today.