James “Sweetie Green was
going about his normal Monday afternoon on February 27th, at his A-1
Auto Care shop, when he heard a honking in front. Honking is normal sound when you work at an
auto shop but not constant honking. When
“Sweetie” Green looked up to see what was going on he saw a billow of smoke
coming from the car that just drove up.
Sweetie recognized the car belonging to a long-time handicap elderly customer,
Emil Coeny. Mr. Green jumped into action
dialing 911 then trying to remove Mr. Coeny from the now burning car. Mr. Green was not able to help the customer
without the help of Joe Hernandez a long time employee of A-1 Auto Care. Sweetie and Joe got Mr. Coeny out of the
burning car and into a chair that another customer, Bob Campbell bought from
the office.
Shawn Shafer, an employee
of Moore County Hospital, heard the 911 call and drove across the street with a
fire extinguisher and put out the fire in the car. The Dumas Fire Department and ambulance
arrived checked Mr. Coeny was okay.
An electrical fire above
the glove box was the culprit of this very eventful Monday afternoon according
to Mr. Sweetie Green. When Mr. Green was
asked if Mr. Coeny had come to A-1 Auto Shop because Coeny was having a problem
with his car. Sweetie said, “No Mr. Coeny
looked to have been out for an ice cream cone when his car started having
problems and he knew we could help get him out of his car.”
According to the Fire
Department when seconds counted, the actions and quick thinking of Sweetie
Green and Joe Hernandez heroic efforts saved Mr. Coeny’s life. Shawn Shafer utilizing a fire extinguisher to
bring the fire under control prior to the arrival of the fire department was
also quick thinking.
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| Emil Coeny's Car has window shattered from heat of fire. |
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