A trucker is being hailed as a hero for risking his own life to save the life of another trucker who was trapped in a burning wreck following a tire blowout.
Driver Jason Williams was headed northbound on 429 in Florida when a tire the garbage truck next to him lost its treads, and the driver lost control. He watched as the truck went over the median and headed into oncoming traffic, clipping one car before leaving the roadway, overturning, and bursting into flames.
Williams pulled over and ran to help, but when he arrived at the truck, he couldn’t see anyone or hear any movement. A few moments later however, he heard calls for help from inside.
The driver of the garbage truck, 61-year-old Michael Bridges, was inside screaming that he was burning. Braving the flames, tried to pull out Bridges by pulling on his arms, but the burns were so bad that he could not get a grip. He finally grabbed the older man by the pants and was able to pull them both back to safety.
Bridges was airlifted to a local hospital where he was in critical condition with serious burns over his body. Williams got away with more minor burns.
“I just got a little on my face, head got a little burned, a little on my wrist. That was nothing compared to what he had. Nothing,” Williams said according to WESH.
Source: gobytrucknews, wesh, wftv
Bless his heart!
A true Hero!
Awesome job!!!
These great stories always seem to reinforce the true human spirit.
Nothing could be much more horrifying than being burned & not being able to help yourself. This guy really saved this man from a horrible death, (even though his road to recovery will be a huge challenge).
Good for him ! The driver of the garbage truck, 61-year-old Michael Bridges, has a long recovery,and I bet the police will come to the hospital,and with fake “sorry this happened to you”,but here is a ticket,and a big fine for not having your vehicle under control”. I was in the Auto/big rig tire business for a lot of years,and i noticed this “the garbage truck next to him lost its treads” When was the last time you checked the air pressure in the tires? You check them with no load in the trailer,and cold. I’ve seen guy add air to a trailer tire with a load on,and hot off the road. Very inaccurate reading.We proved it at the shop, just for our own knowladge.
Ron. Get off your high horse! Tires blow out, it just happens he could have picked up a nail and not known it. Anyways it about people helping each other in need. Wonderful thing more people should be this way!