Support pours in for Myakka City man who saved teen from burning vehicle

MANATEE -- Support and praise have poured in for a 35-year-old Myakka City man who pulled an Arcadia teenager from a burning vehicle Sunday.

Levi Parker Teuton, 35, was severely burned after saving a 15-year-old from a burning 1997 Dodge Ram, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver, 55-year-old Wilfred Calvin Jones, died.

According to FHP troopers, the accident occurred at 10:43 a.m. Sunday on State Road 70. The westbound truck had drifted into the eastbound lanes of S.R. 70, went down a shoulder, struck a barbed wire fence and large oak tree before becoming engulfed in flames, a report states.

"Levi pulled a really heroic stunt because I don't know how he did it," said Doug Dewell, who was also there and helped keep the teen conscious as paramedics made their way to the scene.

Dewell, an IT computer professional from Tampa, was driving westbound on State Road 70 when he saw a man flagging cars down. Seeing smoke billowing from nearby trees, Dewell said he pulled over and so did a truck in front of him.

"We both noticed that there was a kid in the passenger side of the vehicle," the 55-year-old said. "The truck was on fire and the other person who had stopped -- who I know now as Levi -- went back to his truck across the street and grabbed the fire extinguisher out of his truck."

Dewell said there really wasn't anything nearby to use to put out the fire. He ran immediately to help.

"Levi handed me the fire extinguisher and I tried to push myself as close to the vehicle as I could," Dewell said.

The Dodge Ram's door was crumpled because, when it hit the tree, Dewell said the trailer behind it jack-knifed and buckled the door. He and Teuton couldn't get it opened. Flames roared through the cab -- through the windows.

"The boy inside was telling us he was pinned and was begging for someone to get him out," Dewell said, adding that the fire extinguisher became too hot to hold onto.

He ran back to his vehicle to search for a gallon of water, anything that could be poured on the teen to keep him from burning.

"We were literally buying seconds," Dewell said. "When I turned around, the boy was laying next to his dad... I did not see Levi pull him from the wreckage."

Dewell said Jones was a friend of the teen's family and part of a convoy of vehicles on their way to a family reunion. The vehicle that crashed was carrying the barbecue gear and what followed was a series of balls of fire as the truck and propane tanks exploded. Dewell kept the teen calm by asking him questions. When the 15-year-old would start to panic about how hurt he was, Dewell said he continued to hold his hand and comfort him. It was about 25 minutes before paramedics arrived, he said.

"At that point, it was too late to try to save the driver of the vehicle," Dewell said, adding that the driver became pinned. "There was no saving him... there's no way anybody could have gotten the driver out."

Both the boy and Teuton were flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital, FHP troopers said. The boy was listed in critical condition, according to the report.

From what he saw before Teuton was transported to the hospital, Dewell said he suffered extensive burns to his arms and legs.

"I feel bad that I wasn't able to help Levi," Dewell said. "I'm angry that more cars didn't stop. There were a lot of vehicles that just kept driving by. It was really disturbing to know that even an extra pair of hands might have helped pull him out or Levi out."

Family friend Tammy Meador, who owns Dibble Dabble Tammy, a florist shop in Myakka City, has known Teuton his whole life. She found out through a relative that Teuton was involved in the incident.

"I was not suprised that he helped," the 50-year-old Myakka City resident said. "That's just the kind of man he is -- but the fact that he was hurt again, this made my heart hurt."

Meador said Teuton was in a very serious accident in his 20s that almost took his life.

"Levi's very giving," Meador said. "He would do anything for you, if he could, and he wouldn't ask questions."

Though Meador hasn't spoken to Teuton, she said she spoke to his brother, who said Teuton was doing well.

"He's in good spirits," she said.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Teuton's wife, Erika Teuton, shared a status update on her Facebook page from Tampa General Hospital.

"Thank y'all so much for your prayers Levi Teuton is stable (and) doing well," she wrote. "God is great and I love my hubby to the moon and back."

A flood of comments filled her page, many sending love and prayers.

"He is a Godly man!" wrote Shannon Tison. Eric Carrier wrote, "Amazing what he's done, good man."

Teuton ended the message by asking that everyone keep her family in their prayers.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Support pours in for Myakka City man who saved teen from burning vehicle."