Thora wasn't the only driver stopped. About 10 other people got out of their cars and ran toward the fire, which started on April 18 at about 6:30 p.m.
“It was very, very scary, but I was numb,” Thora said. “There was a man there who couldn't escape from the fire.”
Neither he nor others who rushed to help knew who was inside.
“All we knew was that there was a person in the car, so we decided to take action,” Torra said.
“There was no hesitation,” said Lacey Kramer, 32, who also rushed from her car to help. “It was pure adrenaline.”
Torra said his car has video recording capabilities and continues to record frequently to document break-ins and accidents. His car recorded a chaotic scene of people jumping out of cars and desperately trying to pull open the doors of the burning SUV. A guardrail prevented the door from opening completely.
“Everyone was trying their best to get this guy out of the car,” Torra said. “These were people who were risking their lives to save others.”
One man began spraying what appeared to be a fire extinguisher, while Thora grabbed a chunk of debris from the side of the road and tried to use it to break the driver's side window. Flames were blowing into the faces of rescue workers.
“For a second, I thought we weren't going to be able to get him out,” Kramer said.
Minnesota Department of Transportation personnel arrived at the scene and were able to break the window. A group of drivers then pulled him out of the car, feet first.
“I was very happy,” Thora said, adding that everyone was relieved that the man was safe.
The Minnesota State Patrol identified the driver as Samuel Obovich, 71, of St. Paul. Lt. Jill Frankfurth said Orbovich's Honda drifted to the right side of the highway, struck a utility pole and then a guardrail, before catching fire. No injuries were reported, but the driver was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation.
“The State Patrol is grateful that the driver was safe due to the heroic actions of those who stopped to help,” Frankfurs said. “The actions of those who pulled this driver from his burning car demonstrate the importance and willingness of people across Minnesota to look out for each other.”
In a statement to the Washington Post, Orbovich thanked those who helped save him.
“I'm alive today because some Good Samaritans and professional first responders saved my life. Fred Rogers said that when someone sees something scary, , he said, “Find someone who can help you.'' I'm sure you will find someone to help,” Orubovic wrote.
He explained that the airbags were activated after the car collided with a street light and a guardrail. “I noticed the highway helpers were about to break the window open and they pulled me to safety,” he said.
Orbovich, an attorney who has represented caregivers in Minnesota for decades, said people have “ran toward the flames to rescue strangers from a burning car that could explode at any moment, and then thrown themselves in the face.” “They chose to put themselves at risk,” he said, calling the rescue “incredibly heroic.” ”
“My family and I are deeply grateful to these heroes,” Orbovich said. “I look forward to thanking them all in person.”
Torra said incidents like this, where strangers support each other, happen more often than people realize, but they're rarely captured on video.
“When we need help, we come together,” he said.
