A truck driver survived a serious crash that sent steel workers rushing to his side after he plowed into their business in Missouri earlier this week.
The accident happened on January 20th at Warrenton Steel in Warrenton, Missouri off of Veterans Memorial Parkway near Interstate 70.
According to KSDK 5, a 60-year-old trucker was heading east when he misjudged a curve on the highway. The tractor trailer then veered off of the road, crossed the median, and struck a concrete retaining wall lining Warrenton Steel’s lot. The accident crushed the truck driver and scattered its load of meat.
The incident was caught on the business’s surveillance camera, and workers can be seen rushing to the side of the wrecked driver.
“Next thing I knew they were screaming, ‘Call the fire department. It’s really bad,'” said Holly Scott, one of the employees. “It was just talking to him, trying to make him breathe. Ya know, keeping him calm as much as we could,” she explained.
“The guy was completely crushed by the steering wheel and the engine was in his lap but he was still alive when they took him away,” said Jennifer Grooms, co-owner of the business.
Grooms says that they were unable to get the man’s name because he did not speak english, but that didn’t stop them from doing what they could to comfort him during the two hour rescue once first responders arrived.
“He knew we were there to help. He understood some of what we were saying,” Scott said. “He kept saying ‘Mama, mama, come take me. Come take me.’ So I just kept telling him, ‘Mom’s watching out for you. You’re going to be OK.'”
“We just stood there, praying,” Scott said. “We were hoping he’d come out alive.”
The man was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. As of Thursday, January 23rd, he was still alive. Details on his current health status have not been released.
“We just want to know that he is OK and that he is gonna be able to walk out of that hospital at some point. It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, it doesn’t matter what city you’re from, we were there for you and we hope that you make it. We’re glad that you came out of that truck. We’re sorry that we couldn’t do more,” Scott said.