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HOLLADAY -- When a bicyclist ended up underneath a car Tuesday night, on 4500 S. and Highland Drive near the Fresh Market, at least six people sprang into action and potentially saved that bicyclist's life.
"It was just a bunch of strangers there, ready to help," said Angela Clawson, a stay-at-home mom. "I saw a bicycle about 15, 20 feet away from the car and immediately knew I needed to pull over."
With a 30-year-old man pinned beneath a car in the middle of a busy street, Clawson and the others, including a doctor who happened upon the scene, ran to his aid.
"Ultimately I think everyone decided that the best thing to do was attempt to lift the car off of him," Clawson said.
It just really makes me happy to know that there's people out there ready to help when you need it." -- Angela Clawson
They held up the back of the car for 15 to 20 seconds. It was time enough to free the man and begin to render aid ahead of the paramedics.
"I think that everybody comes together when there's, you know, somebody that needs them," Clawson said.
According to paramedics, the man, though left with shoulder, hip and arm injuries, will survive.
"It just really makes me happy to know that there's people out there ready to help when you need it," Clawson said.
Unified Fire warns that first responders don't necessarily want to move a person without the help of paramedics, and in the case of somebody being in the middle of the road, they should be careful not to endanger themselves while helping. Still, they're commending these people and their heroic actions.
"You can't fault them for acting, and it's a great part of where we live and our culture and society," said Capt. Cliff Burningham, UFA.
911 audio obtained by KSL illustrated how upset the driver and others were.
"Is he breathing? Yeah, he's breathing right now. But there's a lot of blood. The guy that hit him. We got him kinda freaking out. So, yeah. Oh, they just picked up the car (screams, indecipherable). Okay, okay."
Email:aadams@ksl.com.
