Good Samaritans pull man from burning car in Liberty County

LIBERTY CO., GA (WTOC) - Three Liberty County citizens pulled a Hinesville man from a burning car Friday morning after crashing into a tree and catching fire.

Georgia State Patrol identified the man as 26-year-old Deondre Shuman of Hinesville. The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. on GA 196 in Liberty County. Shuman was traveling westbound when he crossed into the eastbound lane, striking a tree head-on, causing the vehicle to catch on fire.

Bystanders Brandon Long, Ron Sluder, and another man wanting to remain anonymous sprinted to pull Shuman from the burning car. Long first opened the car door, but was initially unable to pull him from the vehicle.

Meanwhile, smoke spilled from the car as it continued to rapidly burn. The three men were eventually able to pull Shuman by his legs out of the car.

Darby says, "If it had not been for these three bystanders, he probably wouldn't have lived or had a fighting chance. Seconds matter. Minutes matter."

Shuman was life-flighted to Memorial Hospital following the accident.

Darby says he is still amazed by their efforts and humility.

"Not a single one of them came up to me and said oh I was the one that pulled them out of the vehicle. Not at all. Actually, it took some digging into to find out who did make the patient contact? Who did pull them out of the vehicle?" said Darby. "Nobody wanted an atta-girl, or atta-boy, or pat on the shoulder. Nobody."

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