Witnesses pull out man pinned under car; driver had BAC of .35

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Four witnesses helped pull a man out from under his vehicle after his car rolled over and he became pinned underneath it around 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to officials on the scene, a grey Chevy Tracker was heading east on Washington Blvd. and lost control of his van around Coliseum Blvd.  The car slid onto its side and began to barrel roll as it hit gravel near the exit ramp.

The driver was ejected from the car and it then rolled on top of him, pinning him underneath.

Three men who saw the accident helped lift the Tracker off the man.  Kirsten Cochran, 18, pulled the driver out.

"I didn't really do anything at first.  I was just kind of staring at him.  There was blood on the ground and some of his stuff was thrown out of his vehicle," Cochran said.  "They were trying to pick the vehicle up so first I was trying to help them too and then I just ended up, once it was lifted, I went over and pulled him out."

Cochran continued, "I think anyone would have done it.  I think if I was in that position, I hope someone would have pulled over to help."

Steve Sorgen with the Fort Wayne Police Department said the witnesses' quick thinking possibly saved the driver's life.

"The first witness was in a pickup truck.  He said the van slid right in front of him and his exact words when we got here, he goes, ‘I thought we were watching the guy die.’  Their actions probably helped save this gentleman’s life," Sorgen said.  "They say adrenaline...they said they easily lifted it and the female just drug him out."

The driver was transported to the hospital in serious condition.

According to Fort Wayne Police Department Public Information Officer Raquel Foster, the driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) was .35 percent. The legal limit in Indiana is .08%.