ORP 'Incredible Hero' pulls five out of burning van

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Easter morning 2007, Greg Bugher and his family were driving along Interstate 465 when they witnessed one of the most horrific car crashes first-hand. A car was driving in the wrong direction on the highway and collided head-on with a minivan owned by Joy Edwards. The van ignited on fire and passer-by Bugher rushed to the family's aid where he proceeded to pull five people from the burning vehicle.

America's Incredible Pizza Co. and CJM Racing are honoring Incredible Heroes throughout the 2009 Nationwide Series season. If you know of an Incredible Hero, let us know.

• E-mail a nomination
• Official Web site

The Bugher family was driving back from their spring break trip in in Florida. It was about 3 a.m. as Dianna Bugher was driving down a stretch of the interstate when a car came directly toward her. She quickly moved into the right lane and out of harm's way. Her reaction woke up her husband, who was sitting next to her. When the couple looked behind them they witnessed the head-on impact with the Edwards van.

911 was quickly called as the van rolled onto its side and erupted into flames. Greg ran toward the crash scene and heard screams coming from inside the van. It became apparent that he may be this family's only hope of survival. He began to pull children out of the burning vehicle one by one. At times, he would douse the fire with beverages from their cooler or ice to help ease the intensity of the flames.

As Greg went to pull the final child free from the van someone else arrived on the scene to assist him. When they turned back a second later, the van was completely engulfed in flames and five people had been pulled to safety.

The next afternoon, they received word that all the children would make a full recovery but the mother, Edwards, had died in the accident. There was no way to see her in the van due to the angle of the vehicle and the smoke/flames from inside. Also, the driver of the car, Nicole King, died on the scene.

"It's very important to me that people recognize what he did," Jim Wade said, former husband of Edwards and the children's father. "There is no way I'll ever be able to express the gratitude I have to this guy. Words just don't do him justice. He literally risked his life. If it wouldn't have been for him, none of my kids would have survived."

"He's the kind of person who is going to be humble and not want to emphasize what he did," Wade continued. "He's a hero. There is no other word to describe what he did."

For Greg Bugher's heroic effort that Easter morning, he will be honored as this week's "Incredible Hero" at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

The "Incredible Heroes" are extended an invite to attend the Nationwide Series race as guests of CJM Racing and the America's Incredible Pizza Co. Each hero receives a plaque in recognition of their heroism and they spend a VIP day at the race track.