Man sandwiched between two semi trucks survives 26 car pileup

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Monday, January 19, 2015
Kaleb Whitby
Kaleb Whitby, 27, survived with minor injuries after his pickup truck was pinned between two semi trucks in a chain reaction crash
Sergi Karplyuk-WPVI

A driver in Oregon survived being sandwiched by two tractor trailers during a chain reaction crash caused by black ice on the road.



If you look closely in the picture above, you'll see Kaleb Whitby's head. The 27-year-old was part of a 26 car pileup over the weekend on Interstate 84 in Oregon.



Whitby wasn't able to stop in time after a semi truck jackknifed on the slick roads. He slammed into the side of the big rig, causing his pickup truck to flip over.



Whitby then watched, helpless to move, as another tractor-trailer zoomed straight toward him. He says he closed his eyes, held on to his steering wheel tight and prayed as the second semi slammed into his truck.



The driver of one of the semis jumped out and began talking to Whitby, asking permission to snap the photo while waiting for others to arrive to help cut him out of the wreckage, The Oregonian reports. After 30 minutes of being trapped inside, Whitby was freed and managed to walk away with just a bruise and a few scratches.



"I've got two Band-Aids on my right ring finger, and a little bit of ice on my left eye." Whitby told The Oregonian. "Thank God that I'm still alive. Now I've got to go figure out why."



Whitby says he helped other drivers involved in the 26 car pileup before heading home to his pregnant wife and their 2-year-old son.

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