A soldier told today how he helped save a friend from an horrific death when her car turned into a fireball on the A64 near York.

Scott Harcus: Pulled driver from blazing car after A64 collision

Signaller Scott Harcus called for the immediate closure of the "death-trap" gap in the central reservation at Bilbrough Top, where Donna Holmes' car caught fire after being involved in a collision.

Scott, her front seat passenger, said he had jumped out and run away straight after the crash when he saw it had caught fire.

Then, when he realised that Donna, 18, was trapped inside - and without thought for his own personal safety - he ran back to the car to pull her out.

"I heard Donna screaming and I went back and got in the passenger side and tried to get her out. Her own door was jammed. I undid her seat belt and pulled her across to the passenger seat."

Then flames licked across his face and hair and two other motorists, who had stopped after seeing the accident, took over and dragged Donna clear of the car - just before it became a raging inferno.

Scott, 19, currently on standby with the 2 Signal Regiment at Imphal Barracks to go out to Kosovo, says it was instinct rather than bravery that led him to rescue Donna.

"It was pure adrenaline. And she's a good friend."

He said his minor burns had healed but Donna is still being treated for severe burns to her hands at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield. "She is doing quite well," said Scott. "She is taking each day at a time."

Police said yesterday that the Bilbrough Top gap should be closed as well as the nearby Colton Lane End gap, which the Highways Agency said last week would be closed for a 12-month experimental period. The agency said it would consult with police to see whether any further safety measures could be introduced there.

Scott said he supported the campaign to shut the Bilbrough Top gap. "It's a death trap really. I certainly think there's going to be more accidents there."

He said he had gone with Donna to get burgers and chips from the McDonalds restaurant at Bilbrough Top. They were just moving to cross through the gap to return to York with their takeaway when the accident happened.

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