Bystanders save motorcyclist

[hbliam]

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_18889871?source=rv


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The university math students heard the crash, saw the smoke and knew they had to act quickly. A motorcyclist had just collided with a car and was pinned beneath the flaming, twisted metal wreckage.

Disregarding their own safety, they rushed to the street and lined up with more than half a dozen others on one side of the car. Within moments, they managed to lift the roughly 4,000-pound car just high enough for one rescuer to pull Brandon Wright to safety.

"The danger? I didn't think about it for a minute," said James Odei, 35, a doctoral candidate from Ghana who is studying statistics. "All I wanted to do was grab that car and raise it."

For their actions, the rescuers are being called "heroes" and "angels" - their few minutes of heroics were captured on video and have gone viral on the Internet. The man they saved - the 21-year-old Utah State University student - is grateful.

"I'm just very thankful for everyone that helped me out," Wright told The Associated Press by phone from his hospital bed. "They saved my life."

Had none of the rescuers acted, "you can only speculate what the outcome would have been," Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff Curtis said. "Every one of those people put their lives in danger."

That may be true, but none who came to Wright's aid wants to be labeled a hero.

"That's a big title." said Abbass Sharif, 28, another doctoral candidate who is from Lebanon. "I don't consider myself a hero. It's just our humanity. ... Everyone is going to help."

At a hospital news conference on Tuesday, Wright's uncle, Tyler Riggs, recounted what Wright told his family about Monday's accident.

The crash happened near Utah State University in Logan, roughly 90 miles north of Salt Lake City. Wright was headed to study at a computer lab, Riggs said. The BMW was pulling out of a parking lot.

Tire and skid marks on the highway showed that Wright laid the bike down and slid along the road before colliding with the car, Curtis said.

Riggs said Wright tried to protect himself by laying his bike down.

The bike hit the car's hood and bounced to the ground, while Wright, who was not wearing a helmet, slid under the car and then both vehicles burst into flames, Curtis said.

The video, shot by university staffer Chris Garff who had seen the smoke, shows a crowd gathering around the burning wreckage as flames shoot into the air.

Some of the rescuers are wearing construction helmets and safety vests, others sport school backpacks and at least one police officer is in the crowd. Some quickly place their hands on the car and start to rock it, while others lift from the bottom until the car tilts up.

Once the car is on its wheels, a construction worker in a hardhat and a lime green T-shirt can be seen dragging a spread-eagled Wright from under the car.

Two officers then move in with a fire extinguisher. A few minutes pass before paramedics start to give Wright medical care. It's unclear whether they had just arrived or whether they were waiting for the scene to be declared safe.

Sharif said he can't remember if the car felt hot or heavy, just that that something needed to be done.

"The chance of him dying if we don't do it is like 100 percent," he said. "If you weigh the chance of you being in danger, that's going to be low, like 20 percent, compared to

100 percent."

Riggs said Wright remembered details from the crash and told his family that he felt scared and could see and feel the flames. "He remembers being under the car, spitting up blood and not being able to talk," Riggs said.

Despite not wearing a helmet, Riggs said, Wright had suffered no head trauma. Wright does have two broken legs, a broken pelvis, road rash, burns on his left foot and abrasions to his forehead. The hospital said Wright was in satisfactory condition.

The driver of the BMW, John Johnson, had minor injuries. Johnson, a USU business school official, did not respond to email and phone messages seeking comment.

Rescuer Matt Barney, a radiation therapist, said Johnson appeared to be in shock after the accident. "He was really worried about the safety of the young man," Barney said.

Curtis said he didn't know whether any citations would be issued or charges filed.

Wright's family, however, is grateful to the "angels who came to his aid," Riggs said.

"They risked their lives doing it," he said. "It restores your faith in humanity."

[Monsterlover]

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_18889871?source=rv


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The university math students heard the crash, saw the smoke and knew they had to act quickly. A motorcyclist had just collided with a car and was pinned beneath the flaming, twisted metal wreckage.

Disregarding their own safety, they rushed to the street and lined up with more than half a dozen others on one side of the car. Within moments, they managed to lift the roughly 4,000-pound car just high enough for one rescuer to pull Brandon Wright to safety.

"The danger? I didn't think about it for a minute," said James Odei, 35, a doctoral candidate from Ghana who is studying statistics. "All I wanted to do was grab that car and raise it."

For their actions, the rescuers are being called "heroes" and "angels" - their few minutes of heroics were captured on video and have gone viral on the Internet. The man they saved - the 21-year-old Utah State University student - is grateful.

"I'm just very thankful for everyone that helped me out," Wright told The Associated Press by phone from his hospital bed. "They saved my life."

Had none of the rescuers acted, "you can only speculate what the outcome would have been," Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff Curtis said. "Every one of those people put their lives in danger."

That may be true, but none who came to Wright's aid wants to be labeled a hero.

"That's a big title." said Abbass Sharif, 28, another doctoral candidate who is from Lebanon. "I don't consider myself a hero. It's just our humanity. ... Everyone is going to help."

At a hospital news conference on Tuesday, Wright's uncle, Tyler Riggs, recounted what Wright told his family about Monday's accident.

The crash happened near Utah State University in Logan, roughly 90 miles north of Salt Lake City. Wright was headed to study at a computer lab, Riggs said. The BMW was pulling out of a parking lot.

Tire and skid marks on the highway showed that Wright laid the bike down and slid along the road before colliding with the car, Curtis said.

Riggs said Wright tried to protect himself by laying his bike down.

The bike hit the car's hood and bounced to the ground, while Wright, who was not wearing a helmet, slid under the car and then both vehicles burst into flames, Curtis said.

The video, shot by university staffer Chris Garff who had seen the smoke, shows a crowd gathering around the burning wreckage as flames shoot into the air.

Some of the rescuers are wearing construction helmets and safety vests, others sport school backpacks and at least one police officer is in the crowd. Some quickly place their hands on the car and start to rock it, while others lift from the bottom until the car tilts up.

Once the car is on its wheels, a construction worker in a hardhat and a lime green T-shirt can be seen dragging a spread-eagled Wright from under the car.

Two officers then move in with a fire extinguisher. A few minutes pass before paramedics start to give Wright medical care. It's unclear whether they had just arrived or whether they were waiting for the scene to be declared safe.

Sharif said he can't remember if the car felt hot or heavy, just that that something needed to be done.

"The chance of him dying if we don't do it is like 100 percent," he said. "If you weigh the chance of you being in danger, that's going to be low, like 20 percent, compared to

100 percent."

Riggs said Wright remembered details from the crash and told his family that he felt scared and could see and feel the flames. "He remembers being under the car, spitting up blood and not being able to talk," Riggs said.

Despite not wearing a helmet, Riggs said, Wright had suffered no head trauma. Wright does have two broken legs, a broken pelvis, road rash, burns on his left foot and abrasions to his forehead. The hospital said Wright was in satisfactory condition.

The driver of the BMW, John Johnson, had minor injuries. Johnson, a USU business school official, did not respond to email and phone messages seeking comment.

Rescuer Matt Barney, a radiation therapist, said Johnson appeared to be in shock after the accident. "He was really worried about the safety of the young man," Barney said.

Curtis said he didn't know whether any citations would be issued or charges filed.

Wright's family, however, is grateful to the "angels who came to his aid," Riggs said.

"They risked their lives doing it," he said. "It restores your faith in humanity."

I'd just like to mention that this guy is a tool.

Who in their right make the beast with two backsing mind crashes their motorcycle to avoid crashing?!?!

I can't help but think that fundamental riding skills would have prevented all of this.

Leave a margin for error/safety

Don't target fixate

Anticipate and have a plan in case something happens.

I've had people pull out in front of me.  I just have the presence of mind to use brakes and steering to negotiate the obstacle.

Crashing on purpose is just not an option in my mind.

I hang on till the end

[Spidey]

Y'all are too jaded by those incidents we've all heard about where people walk by a scene and do nothing.

Why is everyone so surprised by this one?  Not to diminish what those folks did (which was awesome), but every day ordinary people everywhere do truly heroic things without it making the AP wire.  Cops, firefighters, all sort of public workers, and yes, even random bystanders.  Sure, there are lots of shitbags out there who don't give a fack about anything other than themselves.  And there are also a ton of sheople, who won't do anything unless and until someone else takes the lead.  But there are plenty of people willing to put themselves at risk for others, even when it's not their job.  It just takes one person to take the lead, and more often than we'd expect, there is at least one of those people around.

Good job, car-lifters.

[akmnstr]

I'd just like to mention that this guy is a tool.

Who in their right make the beast with two backsing mind crashes their motorcycle to avoid crashing?!?!

I can't help but think that fundamental riding skills would have prevented all of this.

Leave a margin for error/safety

Don't target fixate

Anticipate and have a plan in case something happens.

I've had people pull out in front of me.  I just have the presence of mind to use brakes and steering to negotiate the obstacle.

Crashing on purpose is just not an option in my mind.

I hang on till the end

Of course the point of interest here is the action of the bystanders.  Having said that, I suspect that the rider was a newbe and made a new rider mistake.  All that you said points to it.  He likely locked up the rear wheel and went down.  I've heard from other riders that they had to put their bike down when what really happened is that with the adrenalin rush of the moment they over applied their rear brake.  Rubber has a higher friction coefficient than sliding steel so it is almost always better to not lay your bike down. 

[Monsterlover]

Rubber has a higher friction coefficient than sliding steel ... <snip>

Or skin. . .

[justinrhenry]

I love the part where they drag him just a few feet away from the still raging flames and then everyone goes away, leaving him unconscious and still in harms way. 

[ab]

 This bystanders are awesome !

To answer your question, would people in my area do the same ?  Hell No  (read below)

When i had a small accident where I low sided during a low speed turn due to gravel (they put gravel sign next day), my left leg was stuck on the back pegs and was dragged.  I am praying to go no car would make the same turn fast and run me over while i am lying there.   I counted about six cars pass me while I am flagging for help.  finally one car stopped because I was motioning to him as he is eyeballing me and about to pass to "please help"...he strolls slowly while I am screaming at him to hurry up as it was starting to hurt.
where did mine happen - freakin' suburbs area.  nice beautiful part of town where no one gives a crap for the most part.

[hbliam]

A few years ago, in Newport Beach, CA., I was on the monster waiting at a red light. I watched a blind man (with cane) misjudge a step and fall off the curb. Three or four cars DROVE AROUND him while he lay in the street. Apparently they had someplace to be.

[Spidey]

Man, people are assholes.  Did y'all see the vid of the dudes shoving an injured motorcyclist UNDER A BURNING CAR?!?  WTF!?!

[elyse]

Man, people are assholes.  Did y'all see the vid of the dudes shoving an injured motorcyclist UNDER A BURNING CAR?!?  WTF!?!

lol!! ok, thats funny..... im glad it worked out the opposite way from that .gif, but its funny 

[ducatiz]

Man, people are assholes.  Did y'all see the vid of the dudes shoving an injured motorcyclist UNDER A BURNING CAR?!?  WTF!?!

sick sonova....lol

[justinrhenry]

hahahahahaha

[IZ]

Man, people are assholes.  Did y'all see the vid of the dudes shoving an injured motorcyclist UNDER A BURNING CAR?!?  WTF!?!

 

[ducatiz]

this reminds me of that kid that got lodged under a car in NY.  I watched the video of it and it took over 5-6 mins for the firemen to show up and jack it up.  There were 2x as many people standing around watching. 

got a link to that?

[ducatiz]

another one that i like

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/12/19/Superman-saves-child-under-car/UPI-41331261268833/