Shortly after 8:15 p.m. on July 22, 1985, Shane Rajotte encountered an injured man walking down a rural highway near Wainwright, Alberta, who informed him there had been a serious accident involving his truck and a car. Shane went for his father, Robert Rajotte, and they rushed to the accident site at a nearby crossroads. The car had caught fire and, assessing the situation, Robert Rajotte sent his son for fire extinguishers. Breaking the car's passenger window, he helped a 16- year-old boy out and then tried to extricate the driver, even though he appeared dead. He was unsuccessful as the man was pinned fast by the steering column and the heat became too intense to continue his efforts. Upon his son's return, they attempted but could not extinguish the spreading fire. They then helped a seriously injured passenger out of the truck and helped both rescued victims away from the wrecks which were in imminent danger of exploding.