Man dies at spot where he saved future wife's life

[March 28, 2009]  VASSAR, Mich. (AP) -- A former police officer suffered a heart attack and died at a Michigan gas station where he saved his future wife's life nearly 15 years ago

Lynne Smith tells The Saginaw News she and James Smith were returning home from breakfast on Monday when their pickup truck started to veer off course.

Lynne Smith looked at her 66-year-old husband and knew something was wrong. She scrambled to take control and piloted the vehicle through some bushes. It came to rest in the parking lot of the service station.

In 1994, James Smith acted quickly to save the then-Lynne Butterfield's life when her estranged husband slashed her throat at the same station.

Said his widow: "He saved my life here and now his life ended here." His funeral is set for Friday afternoon.

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Information from: The Saginaw News, http://www.mlive.com/saginaw

[Associated Press]

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