Dashcam footage captured when Good Samaritans sprang into action to help a man get free of his flaming car on a Minnesota highway.
The selfless team heroically rescued the driver, snatching them from the jaws of death mere moments before tragedy could strike. Footage of the daring rescue of the driver from the flaming car found its way to X (formerly Twitter).
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the driver lost control of their Honda on I-94 near Snelling Avenue, crashing into a lamppost and erupting into flames around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
An Eyewitness Called the Daring Rescue ‘The Scariest Moment of My Life’
The video documents the dramatic rescue of an elderly driver, showing how Kadir Tolla and others left their vehicles aside on the freeway to help. Tolla, on his way to work in St. Paul, came upon the scene just after the car crashed and caught fire. He soon realized the driver might be stuck inside.
“It was just like the scariest moment of my life. This is something that I’ll never forget. I will always remember this,” Tolla recounted to FOX9.
Dashcam footage captures Tolla, dressed in a gray shirt and white sneakers, alongside other witnesses, making concerted efforts to pry the doors open. Tolla positioned his foot against the guardrail for leverage as he pulled on the rear door.
When this effort proved unsuccessful, he quickly moved to the roadside, picking up a piece of plastic to use to break the window.
However, despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, a truck from the Minnesota Department of Transportation arrived, and a state official joined the situation.
The Driver Was Rescued Moments Before Flames Engulfed His Car
The flames surged outward, prompting the crowd to hastily retreat, causing a few onlookers to tumble onto the pavement.
As the tension escalated, a Department of Transportation employee shattered the glass, enabling the group to extract the man through the window.
In a daring rescue, they carried him to safety, narrowly escaping as flames devoured the driver’s side. Remarkably, state officials confirmed the driver suffered no serious injuries. He was promptly transported to Regions Hospital for a thorough evaluation.
Meanwhile, the accident ignited a grass fire, which firefighters promptly put out.
“That could be me one day. What would happen if I was in that situation and my life was in the hands of strangers that I don’t even know?” Tolla said.