Woman taken to hospital after crash with semi on Hwy 80

POOLER, Ga. (WTOC) - A woman was taken to the hospital after her car became trapped under a tractor-trailer.

According to the Pooler Fire chief, the incident happened on Highway 80 near the I-95 interchange just after noon on Friday.

But before emergency crews arrived, Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons says bystanders stepped in, in a big way.

“These guys, they had no reason to go over there if they didn’t want to but they felt that they could help and they actually did. I honestly believe that they saved her life,” said Chief Simmons.

“One of my guys ran over to find out if we could help,” said Nick Giggey.

Nick Giggey was working construction at the McDonalds across the street when the accident happened.

“Your day is never too bad to stop and help someone.”

He says they brought their forklift over and wedged it up under the tractor trailer.

“Picked it up 6 or 8 inches to get it off the car and held it until the fire department and everybody else decided what to do.”

Chief Simmons says someone who works for ABC Supply Co. also saw the crash, pulled over and added his own forklift to the rescue.

“They lifted it up and took the pressure off the car, which gave her enough room that she could stay breathing and kept it from crushing her in the vehicle.”

When crews arrived, Simmons says it was another 30 minutes of work using the jaws of life to get her out to safety.

“For the type of accident and you look how severe it is she was extremely fortunate.”

Chief Simmons says it’s amazing what these bystanders did and he’s grateful they were in the right place at the right time.

“It’s kind of amazing, actually, when you see that. You see a lot of the bad stuff that’s going on in the world, but we get a lot of good stuff,” said Chief Simmons.

“I’m just grateful we could help someone. I’m glad she’s alive,” said Giggey.

Chief Simmons says the woman was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He says the driver of the tractor trailer is also okay.

Pooler Police Department’s traffic investigation unit is investigating the crash to determine how exactly it happened. The fire chief says he also plans on recognizing the bystanders in some way at a later time.

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