The cause of the fire is still not known.
LEWISTON – A Wales man pulled from his burning van last month died Thursday.
Joseph Bolduc, 78, had been driving the Lewiston side streets on Sept. 13, looking for his lost Doberman, when his van burst into flames.
Another man, who had pulled to the side of Highland Spring Road to talk on his cell phone, saw the fire and rescued Bolduc. One of Bolduc’s legs was badly burned. The 1976 Ford conversion van was left a burned hull.
Fire Investigator Paul Ouellette said no cause of the fire had been determined yet, though, “it did start with the engine.”
Bolduc had been driving down Sabattus Street on Sept. 13 close to noon when the side door of the van popped open and his dog, Duchess, jumped out. People traveling behind Bolduc phoned police and flagged Bolduc over to alert him. The dog was found that night.
Ouellette said he had been checking on Bolduc’s condition and found he’d been getting worse the last few weeks. “The leg injury with the burn progressed to the gangrene stage,” he said.
The case will remain open, Ouellette said. The fire doesn’t appear suspicious.
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