Witness Pulls Man From Burning Truck in Southwest Chicago

October 19, 2010 - A passing motorist likely saved the life of a complete stranger when he or she pulled a driver from a burning truck just seconds before the vehicle became completely engulfed in flames. According to a report at the Southtown Star, the accident happened shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday night on the Southwest Side of Chicago.

Police say the victim was driving a Ford F150 pickup truck northbound on Pershing Road when he drove off the road and crashed into a concrete overpass support near the intersection of Pershing Road and Western Avenue. The force from the crash caused the truck to catch on fire.

A witness who saw the crash came to the driver's aid and pulled him out of the burning truck just seconds before it became completely engulfed. The victim suffered personal injuries in the collision and is receiving treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. He has not been identified but police say he is an elderly man in his 70s.

The witness who heroically pulled the man to safety has not been identified. Police have not said if he or she suffered any injuries in the course of the rescue.