Clayton E. Poindexter

Clayton E. Poindexter helped rescue Michael Brenner from burning, Columbia, Illinois, December 8, 2024. Brenner, 71, was piloting a two-seat plane when he lost control and crashed upside down in a field. The plane’s engine area caught fire, and flames and smoke filled the cockpit. Brenner was trapped, as the impact of the crash had buried the plexiglass canopy about a foot deep in the soft dirt. Poindexter, 35, telecommunications technician, and his brother-in-law, 33, saw the crash from their car about a half-mile away and ran to help. Poindexter sprinted ahead while his brother-in-law called 911. Poindexter arrived at the plane and found Brenner upside down inside the cockpit, on fire, and calling out for help. After first trying to dig dirt away from the partially broken canopy without success, he kicked a hole in it, but was unable to extract Brenner. He next tried to lift the wing, but it was too heavy. His brother-in-law then arrived and Poindexter told him to lift the tail. The brother-in-law lifted it about 3 feet off the ground, pulling the canopy free from the ground and giving Poindexter enough space to pull Brenner, whose clothing was on fire, out of the wreck and drag him to safety. Poindexter and his brother-in-law extinguished the flames on Brenner’s pants and then removed them. Brenner was transported by helicopter to a hospital. He had been badly burned and doctors later amputated his lower legs. Poindexter suffered minor burns and cuts on his arms and smoke inhalation, but did not seek medical treatment.

2024-0000424-10536