VIDEO: Aftermath of truck crash with fire, followed by interview with men who saved the life of a truck driver who was trapped in his burning truck after a crash at Lively Boulevard and Thorndale Avenue.
Elk Grove Village police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 2:31 PM Monday to a report of a crash involving two trucks and a car Lively Boulevard and Thorndale Avenue Elk Grove Village, IL. Firefighters and police received an update that one of the trucks was on fire and that the drivers of the trucks were not getting out of their vehicles.
People working at a warehouse at the northwest corner of Lively Boulevard and Thorndale Avenue rushed to help with a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too much for the fire extinguisher to suppress the fire. Next painters from Integrity Painting and Decorating of Downers Grove were using a power washer to prepare a warehouse on the northeast corner for a new tenant. They rushed over with the power washer and water gun and put water on the fire in the cab and on the man who was yelling for help. Two Elk Grove Village police officers were then able to get the man out of the truck. The power washers continued to extinguish the man’s burning clothes after he was removed from the truck.
Firefighter/paramedics from Elk Grove Village and Elk Grove Township helped the crash victims and transported at least two victims to a local hospital (number of victims not confirmed … developing).
Firefighters from Wood Dale went to work on fire suppression while Elk Grove Village firefighters assisted, but focused on the contents of the trucks and securing the saddle gas tanks under the two trucks. Apparently neither truck was carrying hazardous materials. A substantial amount of oil/gas mixture spilled into a culvert and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District was called to the scene. Thorndale Avenue was blocked in both directions until about 5:15 p.m. when the eastbound lanes were opened. The westbound lanes of Thorndale Avenue were still blocked at 6:00 pm.
One of the Good Samaritans that helped rescue the truck driver reported minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Itasca firefighters.
Elk Grove Village Fire Chief Richard J. Mikel personally came over to congratulate the men from Integrity Painting and Decorating for saving the man’s life, “You saved his life.”
Map of location of truck crash with fire and citizen rescue …
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Great interview. They did an amazing job!