Posted on 01/28/2016 6:59:00 AM PST by JoeProBono
BEDFORD, Pa. Locked arm and arm with each other, complete strangers saved the life of a driver whose tractor-trailer lost control during the weekend snowstorm and was teetering over the edge of a hillside.
It was a mess, dangerous. The truck was smoking, couple hundred gallons of diesel fuel, debris everywhere. People didn't seem to care, they jumped out to help," said Arlyn Satanek who witnessed the incident.
Satanek has been driving trucks for years and he's never seen anything like this. On Friday night, inch-by-inch, the snow started to fall and by evening the roads were covered. One trucker radioed to others to back it down. He knew it was too dangerous to keep going.
"At that point I was on my brakes with everything I had and hoping I didn't lose control," Satanek said. "I saw the truck out in front of me pretty much finishing his wipe out and cutting of the entire two lanes of traffic and angling down over the cliff."
Twenty miles east of Bedford, the driver took out nearly half a mile of guardrail. Debris and fuel covered the road and the truck started smoking.
Satanek said the driver was jammed inside the cab and within seconds other motorists stopped to help.
"It was just like everyone knew in that moment we have to reach him, 'Let's lock into this and get this guy up.' It was awesome," Satanek said.
"I decided I knew they had him, and I wanted to get a picture, I want to remember this."
That's when Satanek snapped a picture of the selfless strangers.
"I don’t know any of their names, what their faces looked like. I can only say they made a terrible situation a little bit better by helping someone out that was really in need."
Satanek said the driver was obviously hurt, but alive. There's no update on his condition.
Just wow. God’s children all.
“couple hundred gallons of diesel fuel”
EPA will be looking to fine somebody.
Nothing like a picture of mass heroism to restore one’s faith in people. Need to see more of that.
Terrible, but my first thought was “Why didn’t they wait for Government instructions?”, and my second one was “Shouldn’t the Government be assessing the situation to come up with all possible violations of the law committed in the course of the rescue”?
Blocking a federal highway for non-Black Lives Matter activities for starters.
Beautiful part of the drive but treacherous at times. Blessings to those who helped.
Wonderful story of folks doing right by each other. Kinda helps restore ones faith in humanity.
(Pedant mode on) “arm and arm”? It’s arm IN arm, fcol.(/pedant)
“arm-in-arm”
There are no editors these days and even fewer capable teachers of English idioms. Lots of teachers of idiots, though...
This, my friends, is what we do as Americans. Stop, risk our lives, save a life, then get back in our cars and go home for a frosty brewski.
Yes, but is it better to whip out your cell phone and play photographer, or should you skip the pics and join the rescue effort?
One more person may have made a vital difference.
Hmm...if I were at the end of the chain I could link with one arm & film with the other.
Of course that would be nothing but a bunch of backs with hopefully a loud cheer when they pulled the driver to safety.
Great story. Thanks for posting.
God bless them!
(Cowards die a thousand deaths; but the VALIANT never taste
of death but once!)
I agree. Record the event then put your cellphone down and help out. Win-win all around.
What a perfect description of many Americans. Having run toward the fire a couple times I identify with your comment.
PA tpk ping!
You see these mangled idiomatic expressions every day now. My pet peeve: "tow the line."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.