Faith in Humanity: Crowd of Good Samaritans Rescue Sisters From Burning Wreck
- Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:01pm by
Becket Adams
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Passing motorists who saw smoke billowing Thursday from a stand of pine trees along southern Mississippi’s Interstate 10 rescued a woman and her disabled sister trapped inside a wrecked, burning sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Fifteen to 20 motorists, including a photographer for The Associated Press, came to the aid of the women Thursday afternoon in Hancock County.
Photographer Gerald Herbert said the rescuers pulled the disabled woman from the wreck first, but getting the driver out was difficult.
“No one had fire extinguishers,” Herbert said. “We were all sure she was going to perish. The sounds of her screams and the sight of the fire inching closer to her, that was the most horrible and helpless feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”
As flames spread in the SUV and the driver screamed in panic, those who’d stopped flagged down motorists in a desperate search for fire extinguishers, water — anything that could be used to douse the flames while others tried to find a way to extricate the driver.
Using extinguishers provided by passing truckers, the rescuers were able to control the fire as they worked to free her.
Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Ben Seibert identified the driver as Giovanna Demonte, 36, of Picayune, Miss. He said she was airlifted in stable condition to Gulfport Memorial Hospital. “She had serious head trauma. Anytime that happens, injuries are considered life-threatening,” he said.
Seibert said Demonte was traveling eastbound on I-10, just past the Louisiana-Mississippi line, about 11:30 a.m. when she went off the road, overcorrected, and crossed the median. The passenger side of her 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer then crashed into a tree.
Police said the driver’s sister, Felicidad Demonte, 39, of Slidell, La., was in the back seat and suffered minor injuries.
Petty Officer Melissa Estes, who’s based at the Naval base in Gulfport but is from Annapolis, Md., said she came upon the scene after picking up her mother from the airport in New Orleans.
“I noticed the smoke,” she recalled. “I saw only one person so I stopped and ran down there to help. Others also stopped and a couple of guys broke the windows to the back passenger seat and were able to pull the girl out and her wheelchair. We got her to the road safely. The woman kept screaming `My baby! My baby!’ I really thought the car was going to blow up.”
Zach Miller, of Hurley, Miss., said the entrapped driver was screaming at the top of her lungs.
“I kept telling her, ‘We won’t leave you here to burn. We’re gonna get you out of here,’” he said.
Herbert said a man in a pickup truck tried to pull the car out of the valley where it landed and a cement truck eventually joined the rescue effort and began spraying water on the vehicle, keeping the flames at bay. Others used crowbars to help pry open the car’s jammed door and the Good Samaritans finally were able to pull the woman to safety.
“She was so blessed that mixer had a water hose,” said Harold Catha Jr., also of Hurley, who helped with the effort. “I know that saved her life.”
Catha said he used his fire extinguisher to help put out flames that were licking at the SUV’s front tires. “But the flames would abate for a second or two, but then blaze back,” he said. “The mixer was able to put water inside the vehicle when the flames were trying to get to her. While the water was being poured on her and the fire, they were able to pull the car up out of the woods and get her out. It all took maybe 10 to 12 minutes but it felt a whole lot longer.”
Seibert, the highway patrol spokesman, said police didn’t witness much of what happened but are grateful for the efforts of the motorists.
Said Seibert: “We greatly appreciate those who stopped because sometimes there are accidents when nobody stops.”
Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter
The Associated Press contributed to this report. All photos courtesy AP.
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Comments (68)
JohnLarson
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 2:36amIf Obama would have just released his college papers this crash wouldn’t have happened…
I think I saw Beck helping get them out of the car.
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:37amHaha :))
Report Post »Deepdiver58
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 7:09am“It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”.
Keep speaking.
Report Post »flaggdies
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 11:21amIf it wasn’t Beck I would bet Dollars to Do-nuts that it was someone who watches his show, listens to his show, and/or logs on to this website.
Report Post »Madconservative
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 11:27amObama would have said they didnt do that! The dif between conservatives and libs is we believe that most Americans are good and giving this is proof.
Report Post »spenegdt
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:04pmWell wait just a minute. These fine people didn’t rescue these sisters. Gotta give ALL the the credit to the roads that allowed the cement truck (which no one built) to get close enough to use the water hose and the crowbar (that no one made) and the fire extinguishers that just happen to fill them selves. Remember? YOU DIDN’T BUILD THAT!
Report Post »Sweetrae
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:02pmIf they would have waited for fleabaggers or union people to help them out, they would have burned to death
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 1:04amAnother ‘I’m proud to be an American’ moment. Glad everyone’s OK.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:35amWhat I noticed is Americans working together. All ethnics. So Obama, you didn’t do that now did you? We do not need Obama or anyone telling us how to be Americans. Those who do aren’t anyway.
Report Post »BS61
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 1:02amI totally agree! America is full of heroes like this everyday!
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 2:16amAMEN and AMEN!
Report Post »D-Fence
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 7:40am“Obama needs to learn how to be American.” Sununu is a smart and outspoken person who was never more right!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 10:13amIt a great story but I am confused. We keep bringing up America. Does that mean that only in America someone would try and help? I’m as patriotic as anyone but that seems a bit too far.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:38pmteddrunk As usual you read to much into the statements. Where did this accident occur? America, the United States, we certainly would thank Russia. Do you liberals even think before you speak? Do you just speak and then realize you sound ridiculous and stupid.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:24amCofemale, as far as thinking goes, try real hard and think of any reason a “liberal” as you called me, would have a name like Ted Drunk and a picture of the liberal icon Oldsmobile submarine captain, Ted ” I’ll never go down with the boat (Olds)” Kennedy.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:26amBy the way Cofemale, the word is too, not to. Think on that.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:32amSome people who do not have badges should have them. There are many heros out there who never are seen as heros but who are. Thank God for Americans. We are blessed.
Report Post »68Patriot
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 10:13amExactly, and they don’t expect to get a pension ’til they die for their 20 minutes of work.
Report Post »TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:45pmYou didn’t do that … someone else did that
Report Post »DSVet
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:05amLmfao!!!!
Report Post »GulfCoastConservative
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:33pmThat’s how we get things done in South Mississippi! Way to go, rescuers! That photo of the firefighter and sister has me in tears. I wish them a very speedy recovery.
Report Post »oicu814me2
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:55pmThe cement truck drive was just in time.. No really, Listen close to the brodcast. the news man said the truck drives name was “Justin Time”.
Report Post »oicu814me2
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:09pmThis is in the county I live in. We look out for one another. glad they got them out. When seconds count you can wait minutes for help to arrive.
Report Post »give me a break
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:35pmwell the obama add is first on my computer
Report Post »flatbroke
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:34pmAwesome! i love to read things like this! God bless everyone involved!
Report Post »Passerbye
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:26pmPeople are basicly decent. It’s the leaders and groups where things go wrong.
Report Post »tucsonthomas
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:23pmThis just shows how right Gen’s statement “America is great because America is good” is. I’m glade the Blaze over this story, because this is not an isolated instance, This happens a lot more often than any of us know about. Bless the people who stopped.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:22pmHey Obama……
THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT! IDIOT!!!
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:10pmI got to tell you. I’m sitting here drinking a glass of Cutty Sark Scotch, and it’s so good. But I don’t drink the strong drink.
Report Post »Debra1776
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:08pmThank you one and all–for the photographer to go against his natural instinct to shoot the scene and instead go get the trucks with fire extinguishers is a real marvel. I will be less quick to judge a professional photographer from this point. It is so funny to me that we keep hearing about how selfish and self-centered Americans are but there have been a lot of car rescues by fellow drivers on the roads.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:00pmHere’s a thought. If you save a drunkard from a burning wreck, and four month later they get drunk and drive ending in killing a family of four. Didn’t you kind of indirectly kill a family of four? That’s kind of a tough one. One I don’t worry about because the dead are concerned about burying the dead, because the lively know they go on living. That’s why the dead get judged by their deeds – therefore it’s a good thing they saved them from the wreck.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:53pmPeople love socialism – they just don’t love to pay for it.
Report Post »68Patriot
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 10:25amPeople are Social, at least most. They get joy out of helping others and here’s the punch line…VOLUNTARILY!
SOCIALISM….is INVOLUNTARY!
Go back to sleep. America lovers are having a conversation.
68
Report Post »StrokerAce
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:44pmAs a professional firefighter/EMT I can say these people truly put their lives on the line to save this family. We train day in and day out so we have smooth and safe vehicle extrication. So many factors can go wrong, and these brave people decided to act rather than wait. HATS OFF TO THEM. My hat especially goes of for the navy officer, it is her leadership I believe that helped these people pull off a great and heroic save!
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:01pmNobody really knows til they need you.
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:31pmStrokerAce, was‘nt that the name of a Burt Reynolds movie that I saw through the funky smoke at the drive in during the 70’s?
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:35pmThis story makes me remember that I need to put that small hatchet back in my truck. I used to always carry it for emergencies and I will start again.
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:31pmFunny how the people that the liberals/media ridicules the most are the people you want around when your loved ones are in trouble.
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:29pmWhen I was a kid, I always wanted to be a HERO when I grew up. Thanks for all y’all do. But I know it comes natural for folks that are raised right.
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:27pmGod Bless ..
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:24pmI blame Obama for this wreck.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:29pm@FREEDOMoverFEAR
Want to know the person really responsible for the wreck? You guessed it…Frank Stallone.
Report Post »blutick01
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:19pmreaffirms your faith in humanity
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:43pmWhat‘s ’Faith’ in humanity? You might as well say you have faith in socialism.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:15pmAmericans are at their best when things are at their worst
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:14pmGod bless the fire fighter in the last photo. I will also say God bless the photographer. An image like that touches your heart. I am grateful to hear all are safe.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:11pmGod bless all of those wonderful, heroic people.
Report Post »steveh931
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:14pmI’ll second that
Report Post »steveh931
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:22pmWell done everyone, god bless.
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:05amAMEN! We need to say it proudly and loudly! Amen, Brother!
Report Post »js1964
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:51amAmen
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