NB man saved life, honored by sheriff

By Barbara Brown
When Mark Ramaley couldnít sleep March 5 at 3 a.m., he decided he would get an early start at work.
The owner of Childrenís Connection day care center drove from his nearby North Branch home to the center on Forest Boulevard and when he arrived was shocked by what he found.
Ramaley drove up shortly after a car had careened off the side of the road and landed on its roof in the ditch in front of the day care center where it burst into flames.
ìI could see a figure in the driverís seat,î Ramaley said.
He ran into the building where he called 911 for help and then grabbed a fire extinguisher.
Ramaley rushed outside just as another passerby was coming to the scene.
Ramaley and the other man, who has not been seen since the accident, used four fire extinguishers from inside Childrenís Connection in a vain effort to put out the fire.
In the meantime, Chisago County Sheriffís Lt. Keith Hoppe arrived on the scene.
Hoppe said he was at the North Branch Police Department finishing some paperwork when he heard the emergency call come out.
Hoppe managed to get a sign of life from the man and broke out the passenger window.
Hoppe then unbuckled the drivers seat belt and pulled him to safety.
Ramaley said it wasnít long after the man was removed from the car that the fire got stronger.
ìWe couldnít get the fire out,î he said. ìWe had the wrong kind of extinguishers for a gasoline fire.
ìOf course, it was the middle of winter, but there was no snow that we could use to even try to help put it out.î
The North Branch Fire Department responded shortly after the man was taken from the car, Ramaley said.
ìIf Mr. Ramaley would not have been there, if he wouldnít have gotten involved, we would have investigated a fatality,î Hoppe said.
Hoppe said the accident actually started at about 380th Street where the car veered off the road, tore out the stop sign and continued weaving and flipping until it landed in front of the child care center.
Hoppe said the 42-year-old driver was from Zimmerman. Hoppe said he wasnít sure why the man was driving on Forest Boulevard, but that the man was intoxicated.
The victim in the accident is facing charges of driving while impaired, Hoppe said.
Sheriff Todd Rivard honored Ramaley July 9 at a brief ceremony held at Childrenís Connection.
Rivard thanked Ramaley on behalf of the citizens of Chisago County for being at the right place at the right time.
Ramaley has had some time to reflect on the accident and said he is thankful he could do something to help.
ìI hardly ever had trouble sleeping,î he said. ìThank goodness I just decided to get an early start on the day that morning.î

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