Family in ‘survival mode’ after father and son catch fire in car repair explosion

YAMHILL Ore. (KPTV) - A father and son are both in recovery after they caught on fire while fixing a car Thursday evening.

Their family says they’re in survival mode.

“They are alive and that’s all that matters right now,” said Marsay Garner, who got a terrifying call from her sister just after 7 Thursday night. “She just said there’s been an accident, a fire, an explosion at mom and dad’s – go.”

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Her father Darrell and brother Reese Tucker were fixing an old Chevrolet Nova - a common sight on their property in Yamhill. Reese is a mechanic, and Garner said the family has enjoyed working on anything with a motor for generations.

This time, though, she said there was a fuel leak they discovered too late.

“When he turned the key off it wouldn’t shut off. That sparked, and ignited, then – explosion,” Garner explained.

She said the motor wouldn’t turn off and Reese had pulled out the distributor cap.

“I think he realized he was on fire so he ran out of the shop first, then realized that dad was lying on the ground, next to the car, so he kind of patted himself out, ran back in,” Garner said.

Reese’s dad couldn’t move. Garner said he already had a boot on one leg from a recent surgery, and he broke his other leg trying to escape the flames.

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“Dad did just keep telling him go - leave me, just get out. Obviously, he was not going to just leave his dad there, but Dad told him after the fact, ‘I told you to go because I was just watching the skin melt off of you’,” Garner said.

Reese was airlifted to the nearest burn unit; Darrell joined him Tuesday night after another surgery on his broken leg.

Through it all, Garner said the pair has remained their normal, happy selves. Darrell may come home later this week, while Reese will have a few more weeks in the hospital. One thing they do know: they aren’t giving up on the Chevy.

“They are already talking about rebuilding and how to fix it,” Garner said.

Reese has been documenting his experience on Instagram, where Garner said he has been receiving immense support. The family has also started a GoFundMe, Garner said to help cover two sets of medical bills and lost wages. Click here to donate.