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LOGAN -- The family of a motorcycle rider who was pulled from beneath a burning car today thanked the bystanders who rescued him from the wreckage.
Brandon Wright, 21, remains hospitalized at Intermountain Medical Center. His family says he is expected to recover from the serious injuries he received as a result of being pinned under the car Monday morning.
Wright's rescue made national headlines because strangers stepped in to pull him from under the burning wreckage. His uncle, Tyler Riggs, said, "It's not every day that someone saves a life, and however many people were up there saved my nephew, my sister's son, my grandparent's grandson. They saved his life."
"He knows that there are angels out there that saved his life, people came together, risked their lives to save him," Riggs continued.
Tuesday morning, Riggs thanked about a dozen people who saved his nephew from what could have been a fiery death.
People like Abbass Sharif, a graduate student in statistics.
"If there's a person who might die, the chance that he might die if no one helps him is gonna be one hundred percent. And the chance that I'm gonna be in danger with him, it's gonna be what, 15, 20 percent? Fine, I don't care," Sharif said.
"Just thank you from all of us in the family," he said.
Brandon, a 21-year-old student at Utah State University, was leaving campus Monday when he collided with a BMW. His uncle says he knew he was in trouble so he laid down the bike in an effort to protect himself.
Riggs says Brandon remembers everything that happened next.
"He remembers being under the car, spitting out blood, not being able to talk. He told his parents that that was really scary when he couldn't talk," Riggs said.
When Brandon's bike and the BMW collided, Brandon was pinned under the car. His bike burst into flames, catching the car on fire. Bystanders quickly ran to help, putting their own lives at risk.
Last night, surgeons put a rod in Wright's leg, and moved him to intensive care at IHC. He has no head trauma or nerve damage, good news after such a bad crash.
Wright had a tough night Monday , and didn't get a lot of sleep, but his Riggs said he finally started to get some rest before noon. When he gets his strength back, he wants to meet the people who saved him.
"A lot of times things happen these days that shake our faith in humanity," Riggs said. "Not one person, not two people, (but) nearly a dozen people rushed together to a burning scene and lifted a thousand-pound car. That is absolutely incredible."
Family members released a statement Tuesday morning that says in part, "We are happy to report that he will be OK, having suffered from several broken bones, road rash, and some bruises. Brandon was able to meet with family Monday night and said he is very humbled and owes so many people his life."
Those who didn't hesitate to step in and help, like James Odei, don't seem to think of themselves as heroes.
"It was more to do with making sure that guy survived at least. Making sure he had a second chance at life," Odei said.
Story written by Shara Park with contributions from [Jed Boal](<mailto: jboal@ksl.com>) and [Mike Anderson](<mailto: manderson@ksl.com>)
