Good Samaritans Pull Elderly Couple from Wreck as Flames Consume Vehicle

Ken and Joan Williamson of Phoenix had been having fun with their Labor Day weekend by touring to San Diego — a trip that might have been their final.

At round 4:30 p.m. on Monday, they had been allegedly hit from behind whereas driving on I-8, and their Toyota caught on fireplace.

Because the automobile was consumed by the blaze with the aged Williamsons nonetheless inside, a complete of 5 good Samaritans stopped to assist.

Jeff Lucas, Harry Hemphill, Andre Leggett, Scott Andre and a person recognized solely as Barry — all from the East County Transitional Residing Middle — rapidly approached the burning car.

Although they’d been on the alternative aspect of the freeway, they pulled over and ran throughout lanes of oncoming visitors to assist the trapped couple. Marie Macrorie caught the heart-stopping rescue on digital camera.

“Ran over there,” Hemphill stated, in line with WDJB-TV. “A few guys grabbed the spouse, and the opposite two grabbed the husband, who was driving.”

“It occurred so quick, you recognize,” Lucas stated. “We simply reacted instantly.”

“Even we didn’t even notice there was someone within the passenger seat. That’s how a lot smoke was within the automobile.”

“We simply noticed this man, and he’s caught in his seat belt,” Leggett added, “so we form of snatched open the door and unbuckled the seat belt, and my buddy, Barry, snatched him out of the automobile.”

If these courageous males hadn’t acted instantly, the couple probably would have perished. Joan got here away with minor accidents, although Barry and Ken suffered burns. The three are recovering within the hospital.

Mark and Steve Williamson are eternally grateful to the heroes who rescued their mother and father that afternoon.

“Everybody that noticed that video is aware of that if these folks didn’t pull them out, we wouldn’t be having this dialogue proper now, so I can’t thank them sufficient,” Mark stated.

“Our dad had some burns to his left aspect,” Steve added. “My mother received out with simply abrasions.”

Whereas the good Samaritans are being acknowledged for his or her selfless actions, one took the chance to provide credit score to God, and one other thanked the ECTLC for altering lives and hearts.

“I’m glad they’re OK,” Andre stated. “Yeah, I’m glad God took care of them, you recognize, and hopefully they’ll be OK.”

“There was a time when, like so many, I might have — we might have stored driving,” Hemphill admitted. “However due to packages like ECTLC, we’re — I’m altering, and in that change, now we’re in a position to not simply be egocentric people however look out for others.”

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Amanda holds an MA in Rhetoric and TESOL from Cal Poly Pomona. After educating composition and logic for a number of years, she’s strayed into writing full-time and particularly enjoys animal-related subjects.

As of January 2019, Amanda has written over 1,000 tales for The Western Journal however does not actually understand how. Graduating from California State Polytechnic College with a MA in Rhetoric/Composition and TESOL, she wrote her thesis about metacognitive improvement and the ability switch between studying and writing in freshman college students.
She has a slew of pursuits that maintain her busy, together with making an attempt out new recipes, having fun with nature, discussing ridiculous subjects, studying, drawing, folks watching, growing curriculum, and writing bios. Typically she has crimson hair, typically she has brown hair, typically she’s had teal hair.
With a e-book on productive communication methods within the works, Amanda can be writing and illustrating some kids’s books along with her husband, Edward.

Location

Austin, Texas

Languages Spoken

English und ein bißchen Deutsch

Subjects of Experience

Religion, Animals, Cooking