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LAKE POINT, Tooele County — A motel maintenance worker was among several bystanders who quickly came to the rescue Wednesday when they saved a Colorado semitruck driver from his smoky truck.
Jeff Hicken, formerly in the Air Force Reserve, was working at Oquirrh Motor Inn just before 11 a.m. when driver Brian Harmon, 44, crashed into the motel sign.
Motel general manager Ginger Martin said Hicken broke some windows with a fire extinguisher and a hammer before he and the others pulled the driver out of the vehicle.
Hicken said five or six others also responded to the situation. They pulled the driver from the semitruck minutes before it went up in flames.
Martin captured the rescue on video, which started recording just after Hicken broke the first window, she said.
Hicken, who is studying Health Education and Promotion at the Utah State University Tooele extension, said the emergency management class he took helped him respond to the emergency.
A deputy who had been filling up on gas and a North Tooele firefighter who happened to be in the area were among the rescuers, Chad McCoy with the Utah Highway Patrol said.
Firefighters also responded to the scene and were able to quickly put out the flames.
The semitruck driver was transported to the hospital by helicopter after sustaining minor injuries.
Contributing: Jed Boal
