NEWLY UPDATED: Two Scotland area youngsters seriously burned in Saturday accident; both remain in 'critical' condition

A terrible accident shocked the small south central Greene County village of Scotland on Saturday afternoon.

Two Scotland area youngsters were seriously burned in the Taylor Township tragic accident that involved a gasoline explosion.

The two juvenile-aged boys were flown by two Air-Evac medical helicopter ambulances from the scene of the accident that was reported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department dispatch center at 4:16 p.m.

Both of the boys were taken to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis

Nicholas Decker, of Scotland, and Joshua Merritt, of Crane Village, remain in critical condition in the burn unit at Riley Hospital as of Monday afternoon, according to Clarion Health group spokesman Gene Ford.

Richland-Taylor Fire Chief Randy Baker lives a short distance from the accident scene -- across the street from the R-T Scotland Fire Station -- and was the first person on the scene.

Baker said both boys -- in the 10-11 year old range -- sustained "serious burns" over much of their bodies.

The fire chief explained that he was outdoors doing some remodeling on his house when he heard what he described as "an eerie explosion."

"I heard the explosion and then I seen the kids running."

His 14 years experience as a volunteer firefighters told him this was reason for concern.

Baker quickly ran to the scene and with the help of two other neighbors -- Bill Thomas and Danny Riggins -- were able to extinguish the flames from the two youngsters.

The fire chief credited the two neighbors with "going above and beyond" in their efforts to help the seriously burned boys.

"I don't know what we would have done if they hadn't been there," the told the Greene County Daily World.

He said both boys underwent surgery on Saturday night.

Baker said the accident remains under investigation, but he did confirm that gasoline was involved as the source of the fire that happened at an outdoor woodpile across the street from the Richland-Taylor fire station.

"We don't really know what happened," he added. "It was a bad deal. ... It was a terrible accident."

The fire chief said in his tenure as a firefighter this was clearly the worst accident he had witnessed involving young children.

At least two other small children witnessed the accident, according to Baker.

Decker is a student at Bloomfield Elementary School, while Merritt lives at Crane Village and attends school in Loogootee.

Assisting the two Air-Evac helicopter units and the Richland-Taylor Fire Department at the scene were two units from the Greene County Ambulance and Paramedic Service.

Special funds for both boys have been established at Bloomfield State Bank to assist with medical expenses. Donations can be made at any BSB branch.

Also a benefit event has been set up for both boys at the Bloomfield American Legion Post 196 on Saturday, May 2 starting at 7 p.m.

Music by Silverado will start at 8.