Bystanders and first responders lift car to free trapped woman
DALLAS --Dallas police officers, firefighters and several bystanders lifted a car with their hands, rescuing a woman trapped beneath it after a violent crash, CBS Dallas reports.
Surveillance video from a nearby business captured the harrowing moments on camera. Police tell CBS Dallas a woman was riding a motorcycle in the right, southbound lane, when a man driving in the same direction made a move from the left to the right lane.
He hit the woman and the impact sent her flying off her motorcycle and pinned her under his car. CBS Dallas explains the low-hanging undercarriage of the vehicle kept her from moving. Her helmet was wedged to the ground.
Dallas police officers were the first to get to the scene.
"All we saw was her arm, so we tried to make sure she was still alive, still breathing until [Dallas Fire Rescue] got there," said Officer Laura Beddow to CBS Dallas.
The police officers tried to use a jack to lift up the car and relieve the pressure on the woman, but it didn't work. And the woman was slipping in and out of consciousness.
"I just wanted to keep talking to her, keep trying to reassure her we're going to get help. Help was on the way. We're going to get her out of there," said Officer William Mathis.
As more officers and bystanders arrived, Beddow says the group made the decision to lift the car with their hands. In the video people are seen running towards the scene of the accident to help.
"Once we saw the big guys show up, we were like, 'I think there's enough of us to lift up the car, so we made the decision to lift it instead of waiting," said Beddow.
The dashcam video shows eight officers, a firefighter, and civilians lifting up one side of the car. It all happens in one swift movement.
"We just wanted to do the right thing, wanted to help her out," said Mathis.
Beddow and another first responder were then able to drag the woman to safety.
CBS Dallas reports the woman was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Some of the officers even visited her there later. She is now recovering at home, but says the first responders saved her life.
"My client is grateful and thankful for the excellent service provided by the Dallas police officers and firefighters that saved her life. She is grateful and thankful to the bystanders that helped lift the car and the excellent medical care she received at Baylor," said her attorney Tim Bates to CBS Dallas.
While the woman has seen the video of the rescue, her attorney says she remembers very little of what happened that night.
"In 25 years of handling thousands of violent collision cases, this is the finest police and fireman work I have ever seen. Dallas should be proud of these great officers and firemen," said Bates.
Police say the driver of the sedan was at fault in the crash. He faces no criminal charge but officers cited him for driving without a license.