Elderly man dragged from burning vehicle near I-280 Elderly man dragged from burning vehicle near I-280 (December 03, 2003)

An unconscious 72-year-old man was dragged from his burning vehicle after it careened out of control on Interstate 280 near Woodside and came to a stop in a field on November 24, said a California Highway Patrol official.

George Erickson of Watsonville told officers that he passed out at the wheel as he was driving south on I-280 near Canada Road at about 2:40 p.m., said CHP spokesman Christian Oliver.

After colliding with two cars, his vehicle veered off the freeway into a field, ran through three fences, came to a halt after hitting a tree and then caught fire, said Mr. Oliver.

Several men who witnessed the crash dragged Mr. Erickson to safety. He was taken to Stanford Hospital with minor lacerations to the face and complaint of back pain, said Mr. Oliver.

One of Mr. Erickson's rescuers was slightly injured when one of the barbed wire fences struck him. No other injuries were reported.

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