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Photo by Bob Pennell Mark Trusty of Dick's Wrecking works to remove the overturned minivan from Interstate 5 on Sunday afternoon. Passerby's help keeps toddler safe By DAVID PRESZLER Isaiah Hurney didn't even know Joe Hines' name Sunday afternoon but he wanted to hug the man. "He got my son out first thing," Hurney said. "That was definitely an act of heroism." Coming upon an overturned minivan that was leaking gasoline along Interstate 5 on the viaduct, Hines reacted quickly and got 16-month-old Nicholas Hurney out of his car seat and to safety. "There was gas pouring out that thing, so I kicked in the window and went in," Hines said. The boy and his grandparents, Irene and Richard Andresen of Yreka, Calif., suffered only minor injuries in the 1 p.m. accident and were treated at Rogue Valley Medical Center and released. Isaiah Hurney, his wife, Melinda, and Nicholas moved to Medford over the weekend. They left Nicholas with his grandparents for an extra visit and the Andresens were bringing him to them Sunday. Irene Andresen, 49, was driving north on the I-5 viaduct through downtown Medford when the minivan went out of control and flipped over on its top. Oregon State Police said a mechanical failure may have played a role in the accident, which slowed traffic for about 50 minutes. Both Andresens were wearing seat belts and young Nicholas was in his car seat. Nicholas suffered a few cuts and bruises but no serious injuries; his grandparents were uninjured but also got checked out at the hospital. Hines, who was returning home after visiting his daughter in New Mexico, said he was happy to help. "I'm just glad they are all all right," he said. "If they would't have had their (seat) belts on, they wouldn't have been." Isaiah Hurney was moved not only by Hines' help but by the hospital's donation of a new car seat for Nicholas. Richard Andresen said their grandson's safety was an immediate concern, especially with so much gasoline spilling from the minivan. He was grateful for the help Hines and others provided. "It was great," he said. "I don't even know how many people were there helping, eventually. Thank god for car seats and seatbelts." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA