Driver Survives Getting Pinned Under Semi in Fiery Crash

It took rescue crews 45 minutes to extract a driver from a fiery crash that occurred between an 18-wheeler and SUV Friday morning.

The high-speed crash occurred around 5 a.m. at 5119 E 7th St when a Chevy Tahoe smashed into an 18-wheeler that was backing up into the parking lot of a business, KXAN reported. The front end of the vehicle, including the front-row seats, became lodged under the semi.

“As you can see, this made for a complicated extrication of the SUV driver,” the Austin Fire Department wrote on social media.

The first crews on scene worked to extinguish a fire in the engine compartment of the SUV. The driver was not successfully extracted from the vehicle until until 6:17 a.m, KXAN reported. The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, was rushed to the hospital where he is in critical but stable condition. It was reported that he did not suffer any burns.

AFD Corporal Chad Martinka told KXAN the man must have had a guardian angel to have survived the crash.

“With vehicle rescues involving an 18-wheeler, the big rig wins every time; this morning was no exception,” the AFD wrote.

[Photos courtesy of AFD Battalion Chief Rob Vires]