For the Journal

SHELLEY - While on his way to grab some dinner from a local truck stop, Clark Christensen, the 53-year-old owner of a dump trucking company, became a hero.

"I was driving to the truck stop for supper when I spotted the fire," Christensen said.

Christensen knew that drivers on Interstate 15 were unable to see the flames until they had already passed them, so he figured he would just head over and put out what he thought was just a trash fire.

However, as Christensen approached the blaze, he found that it was a car fire, and as it was illuminated by the light from a passing car, he could see that there was a woman trapped in the front seat.

"I saw a lady in the car, and she sat up and started screaming at me to get her out," Christensen said.

The car's battery had been destroyed when the car crashed into the guardrail, so the automatic door-locks had snapped shut, trapping the woman.

Christensen grabbed a rock and began trying to break a window out, but after several tries he ran back to the interstate to flag down some help.

Tracy Dursteler pulled off of the road and ran with Christensen back to the burning car.

The two men were able to free the woman, and carry her to safety.

"As we pulled her out flames were coming up over the hood and all I could think about was getting her out and the Lord," Christensen said.

Once the woman, Kristin Shaw, was out of harm's way, Christensen disappeared, leaving behind only his good deed.

Much later, the Idaho State Police started a manhunt for the nameless hero, who with the help of Dursteler saved Shaw's life on the evening of Aug. 22.

After being turned in by his sister, Christensen was forced to take responsibility for his deed on Feb. 12, when ISP gave him a plaque during a ceremony honoring his heroic and selfless actions.