
A passing motorist saved the life of an unconscious trucker after his rig overturned and burst into flames in California on Friday.
The accident happened on May 25th at approximately 1:20 a.m. in Crockett, California.
According to CBS San Francisco, the semi truck hauling pineapples was traveling on Interstate 80 when it drifted out of its lane, striking a divider that marks the Pomona Street off-ramp, overturning the rig, separating the tractor from the trailer, and sending the cab up in flames.
As the tractor trailer began to burn, a motorist traveling behind the big rig realized what was going on and rushed to the wrecked semi truck, quickly pulling the unconscious truck driver from the flaming cab and administering CPR until paramedics arrived, saving the 29-year-old unnamed truck driver’s life.
“He (the Good Samaritan) said he was driving behind the truck and observed the accident,” said CHP Sgt. John Koven.
“Once he saw it was pretty major, he got out, checked to see if the driver was okay. When he did that that’s when the truck started to ignite, catching on fire very slowly. He dragged him [the trucker] out of the cab and provided CPR at that time.”
As soon as officials arrived, the Good Samaritan said he needed to continue on his way, and left the scene without giving a name.
Far left lane open on I-80 east at Pomona St exit to Carquinez Bridge. .@KTVU pic.twitter.com/lriPYKbdPy
— Leigh Martinez (@LeighMartinezTV) May 25, 2018
The truck driver, whose identity has not been released, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. His current condition is not known.
The wreck shut down most lanes of I-80 at Pomona Street until around 11:00 a.m. which, unfortunately, led to an additional wreck.
As traffic control was being conducted around the initial tractor trailer wreck, an unnamed 67-year-old man failed to slow for traffic and crashed into the back of a stopped semi truck. The elderly man was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Both incidents are still under investigation, but drugs or alcohol are not thought to be a factor in either wreck.