HAPEVILLE, Ga. — A driver who courageously pulled another man out of a burning car says he hopes that victim will survive.
The crash happened along Interstate 85 in Hapeville in the early morning hours of Nov. 14.
Police told Channel 2’s Tom Regan the man had been involved in a police chase, and when police called off the chase, he had continued to speed, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree.
Jay Bradley said he first thought the flickering light off to the side of the road was a small wildfire, but when he ran up to the crash, he discovered it was a burning car with a man trapped inside.
“I saw the young man in the car. He couldn't get his seat belt off. He was semiconscious. I tried to help him with the seat belt. It was on fire at that point,” Bradley told Regan.
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Bradley grabbed some box cutters from his truck, cut through the seat belt and pulled the man out.
“I was able to grab ahold of his belt and that's what allowed me to get him away from the car,” Bradley said.
“Were you worried the car was going to blow up?” Regan asked Bradley.
“Yeah. It was making a lot of popping noises and the fire was just getting bigger and bigger,” Bradley said.
The crash victim, who had no identification on him, is now in an induced coma at Grady Memorial Hospital. He has severe burns and other injuries.
Police released a sketch of the man, who is in his 20s and has a medium build, in hopes that someone will recognize him.
Detective Stephen Cushing, of the Hapeville Police Department, said they are working with other law enforcement agencies to try to determine the man's identity.