Two off-duty Sheriff’s Deputies’ quick actions helped save the life of a truck driver trapped in the cab of his vehicle after a roll-over crash.
Sgt. Phil Cruz and K-9 Handler Deputy Adam Nauta were driving on the freeway in Artesia at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 14, when they saw traffic abruptly stop and a plume of smoke rising from a nearby embankment on the 91 East and North 605 freeway interchange.
As the deputies got closer, they saw a blue semi-truck had rolled into the embankment, coming to rest on the driver’s side. Sgt. Cruz and Deputy Nauta jumped from their vehicle and ran down to the truck where they found the driver trapped and unresponsive.
With the distinct smell of diesel fuel getting stronger and smoke filling the interior, the deputies had to move quickly.
Sgt. Cruz borrowed a golf club from another motorist who had stopped and smashed the passenger side window. The driver gained consciousness, but he was wedged in tight and couldn’t climb out.
The deputies cut the driver’s seatbelt and pulled him from the vehicle. They carried the 59-year-old driver to safety and waited for medical crews to arrive. The driver was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
We are grateful for the deputies’ actions that day and wish the driver a full and speedy recovery!
