A driver pulled from a burning Dodge Challenger after a crash in Tulsa was hospitalized in critical condition but is expected to survive, according to the Tulsa Police Department’s Facebook statement.
Three other people were also taken to the hospital following the Aug. 21 collision on East 41st Street near the Broken Arrow Expressway. They included two passengers from the Challenger and the driver of a Ford F-350.
The wreck prompted an immediate response from people nearby, who began helping before officers and firefighters arrived. Their actions have since become a major focus of the reaction surrounding the crash, with Tulsa police publicly praising the citizens who stepped in alongside officers and firefighters.
Bystanders Began Rescue Before Officers and Firefighters Arrived
People nearby managed to pull both passengers from the Challenger after the car rolled and caught fire. The driver, however, remained trapped inside.
Officers arrived and used fire extinguishers as they worked to reach the driver. Tulsa firefighters then joined the officers, and together they pulled the driver from the car.
Firefighters performed life-saving measures before the critically injured driver was transported to the hospital. No further updates on the driver’s condition have been released. Our thoughts are with the driver and everyone affected by the crash.
Crash Started With Left Turn on 41st Street
The collision happened around 6:32 p.m.
Tulsa police said a white F-350 traveling in the westbound lanes of East 41st Street was making a left turn when it turned in front of an eastbound black Dodge Challenger. The Challenger struck the truck and rolled.
The Tulsa Police Department’s Advanced Traffic Investigators are examining the cause and circumstances of the crash. Police have not announced a final determination of fault in the information released so far.
Social Media Praises Rescuers
Social media reaction largely focused on the people who stopped to help.
“Seen the video of the first [people] who arrived and pull the [people] out before first responders came,” one commenter wrote. “They were quick to help save the ppl.”
Another person said a family member was among the first to help and “left there pretty shaken up.”
“Wow! Way to go Tulsa police, firefighters, and the citizens who helped,” another commenter wrote.
Their quick response showed how decisive action can save lives in a crisis, with bystanders, officers, and firefighters working together to pull people from danger when every second mattered.