Good Samaritans recall fiery rescue on Roosevelt Expressway

Chad Pradelli Image
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Good Samaritans recall fiery rescue
Good Samaritans recall fiery rescue. Chad Pradelli reports during Action News at 4:30 p.m. on December 27, 2017.

EAST FALLS (WPVI) -- A driver is in critical condition after he was pulled from a minivan that burst into flames following a crash on the Roosevelt Expressway in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.

The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday near Fox Street.

Action Cam video of fiery Roosevelt Expressway crash on December 27, 2017.

Good Samaritan John Michulka was driving his tow truck in the southbound lanes when he came upon the crash.

"I immediately spun around to check on the guy because there was literally no one else on the highway," Michulka said.

Michulka arrived on scene and saw the driver was trapped. That's when Mike Conway also pulled over.

The two and third good Samaritan moved into action.

Michulka and Conway explained to Action News what happened next.

"I am definitely worried this thing is going to blow. I was just thinking it could be my sister, my mother, my dad, you know. I just said a quick silent prayer and said let's get this guy out of there," Conway said.

"I literally seen that the gas tank was right next to the fire, my first reaction was to get him out of the car," Michulka said.

"When I got to the window, I could see him clearly hanging upside down, so we were kicking the window out, kicking the window out, and it breaks," Conway said.

Conway says he then hit the seat belt release and the two men grabbed the injured driver pulling him to safety. He was semi-conscious and a nurse tended to him on the roadway.

"Sixty seconds later, the car like blew up," Michulka said.

Police say the the driver is expected to make a full recovery, in part, because of these good Samaritans.

"I feel good, a lot of people called me a hero. I don't feel like I am a hero, I did what I feel was right," Conway said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The name of the driver has not been released.

Tow truck driver rescues victim of fiery crash in East Falls. Watch this report from Action News Mornings on December 27, 2017.

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