It took two good Samaritans and one big crowbar to pull a semi driver from the vehicle's burning cab Sunday morning.
The driver, who was not immediately identified, escaped with minor injuries.
That would not have been the case, though, if no one had stopped to help before police and firefighters arrived at the crash on Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs about 9:15 a.m.
Bob and Pat Tallant of Omaha were traveling to a friend's house when they saw a semitrailer truck pulling onto the Interstate near Avenue G. The semi missed the traffic lane and ran into a bridge, tearing the cab from the trailer and landing the cab on the driver's side, Bob Tallant said.
The couple pulled over to help, along with another driver who was behind them. Pat Tallant called 911 and tried to flag down more help, while Bob and the second motorist checked on the semi driver.
The semi driver seemed dazed and incoherent but otherwise OK, Bob Tallant said. He and the other driver who stopped were able to talk to the semi driver, but he was not able to get out on his own. Both rescuers realized that a small fire burning outside the cab was growing and that they didn't have much time.
"It was scary," Tallant said. "It was really scary."
Tallant said he never learned his fellow rescuer's name. But without the man's "huge crowbar," the two would have never been able to open up the obstructed passenger side.
The second rescuer, who was taller, also was able to reach farther into the cab, Tallant said. Together they pulled the semi driver out, just in the nick of time.
They moved the man away from the cab and made sure he was OK. Then they saw the cab and the separated trailer completely engulfed in fire.
The semi driver had a scrape on his right arm and was missing his left sandal, Tallant said. "Other than being shaken up, he seemed to be in good shape."
Two young women, one of whom was a medical student, also stopped to help.
Tallant said he tried to talk to his fellow rescuer. The man rushed off, though. "He said 'I'm late. I've got to go.' "
Fortunately for the semi driver, though, both men made time to help.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1304 402-444-1304 news@owh.com
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