NEWCASTLE, Wash. — A man is in the hospital recovering after he was pried from a burning car.
It happened on October 9 just after 5 p.m.
The King County Sheriff’s Department said the car caught on fire after the driver crashed on Newcastle Golf Club Road and 136th Avenue Southeast.
When law enforcement arrived, members of the community were trying to put out the flames using fire extinguishers and stopping passing cars to ask if they had extras.
Deputies stepped in, trying to remove the driver from the vehicle. They were able to cut the man’s seat belt, but the door was stuck.
Firefighters pried it open while law enforcement used extinguishers on the passenger side of the vehicle to keep the flames away from the driver.
According to Bellevue Fire, the driver’s legs and feet were badly burned, to the point where the injuries were life-threatening.
Angela Shook said it was her brother Jacob who was pulled out of the burning vehicle. She said her brother was on the way home from work that day and wasn’t feeling great. She said the last thing he remembers was getting off the highway.
She tells KIRO 7 her brother suffered a ruptured bladder, six broken ribs, burns on both hands, parts of his legs and his right foot and has had several surgeries in the process.
“And that’s going to be the real challenge is getting those skin graphs and getting those to heal,” Shook said.
Shook said after seeing the body cam video of her brother being pulled out of a burning car, she is amazed he survived.
“And after seeing that video, I have no idea how that is even possible,” Shook said.
Which is why she is forever grateful for the police officers and good Samaritans who stepped in and helped Jacob.
Angela sent a message to the Newcastle Chief of Police, thanking them for their hard work:
“Tell them Thank you sooo much do saving my brother!!!!! He is doing better but it’s going to be a long road of healing. He has 12% body is 3rd degree burnt 6 broken ribs Ruptured bladder 3 level smoke damage of his lungs Knee is just… open. But he is alive!
He was in a medically induced coma until Saturday. He is in Harborview Hospital ICU. So far 3 surgeries and many more to come. But thank god you guys all got him out! He is very dearly loved. Please let everyone know the family appreciates all of out of the car in the fire !!!”
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“All the glory goes to them. I can’t even imagine what they were walking through in that moment and just being able to show up the way they did, he would not be here today without them,” Shook said.
Shook said her brother will be in the hospital for at least five more weeks. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with medical expenses.
Two deputies suffered minor injuries but declined medical treatment.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.