A Good Samaritan who sprang into action after a fiery crash on the 417 on Friday says he’s just grateful no one was killed.
The crash, involving a transport truck and a sedan, happened on the westbound lanes of the Queensway at the height of the Friday morning rush hour.
The transport truck burst into flames, sending plumes of black smoke shooting into the air. Michael Bertrand was on his way to work when he came across the aftermath of the collision.
He initially reached for his phone to record the dramatic scene. Seconds later, he dropped the phone, and ran over to help.
“I noticed that everybody was filming, and nobody was helping,” he said.
Bertrand ran to the wrecked sedan, where the 57-year-old male driver was still inside.
He and another Good Samaritan pulled the man out of the vehicle. Paramedics say the driver suffered minor injuries.
Bertrand then rushed over to the 64-year-old male truck driver, who was lying on the ground bleeding heavily, as his truck burned nearby.
Bertrand wasn’t sure if the man would survive. He and another woman tried to keep the driver still and calm until paramedics arrived a few minutes later.
He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
OPP are investigating the crash, and trying to piece together how it was caused. They are asking witnesses to contact them.
