Man who helped in fiery crash: 'I'm just happy that I was there at the right moment'
First responders who were on the scene oa a fiery crash Sunday night involving a father and baby said the two would not have survived if it were not for Antonio Arias.
Posted — UpdatedThe Good Samaritan spoke exclusively to WRAL News on Tuesday about the crash and what happened. The baby miraculously was not hurt, while Highway Patrol troopers said the father remains in the hospital with substantial injuries.
“First thing that came to mind was the child and getting him out first," said Arias, a volunteer firefighter. "That was my first priority.”
While heading to the grocery store Sunday night, Arias came across a bad accident on Earpsboro Road near N.C. Highway 39 in Johnston County. Troopers said a car was driving on Earpsboro Road when it crashed. The car spun out, hit a tree and then burst into flames.
“I ran to the car, and that’s when I saw a man pinned,” Arias said. “The only thing he could tell me at that moment was he was asking for his child.”
Arias searched the car and didn’t see the child at first but heard a baby crying.
“I went around the vehicle, that’s where I saw the car seat sticking out of the driver-side rear door. It was pinned in between the door frame and the door, so he was literally sticking out of the roof,” Arias said.
Arias then unbuckled the baby and rushed the child to safety. Shortly after, he said the car caught on fire.
“Basically flames were starting under the hood, you could see the flames and the orange colors coming out from under the hood," Arias said. "I had a fire extinguisher, so I went and grabbed it, and I came back and told the man 'Sir you have to get out of the car, the car it’s burning or you will die'.”
While Arias was working to put out the fire, the man stuck inside managed to wiggle his way close enough to the door where Arias and another Good Samaritan could pull him to safety.
“I’m just happy that I was there at the right moment, and I think God for not letting anything happen to the child and basically letting a passerby go by that was able to help me get this man out," Arias said.
Arias also said he doesn’t consider himself a hero. He’s just glad he was able to help. As for the driver in this accident, troopers with the N.C. State Highway Patrol said charges were pending, one of which will likely include driving while intoxicated.
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