Dramatic video emerged capturing the aftermath of the accident, which took place at the intersection of West 51st Street and S Lawndale Avenue in the Gage Park section of the city on the evening of June 7.
A couple and their toddler were traveling in their SUV just before 9.40 pm when police say a white van ran a red light and broadsided their vehicle, causing it to roll over, as seen on surveillance video from the area.
However, beyond the tragic incident, an act of heroism was caught on video, about a dozen of men in Chicago rescued a family that had been trapped in their overturned SUV.
Several residents told CBS News that they ran outside after hearing screams coming from an overturned vehicle. The residents were assisted by some drivers that happened upon the scene and got out of their cars to help.
“Adrenaline, fear. My legs were shaking so bad, yeah, fear,” resident Isaac Terrazas told the outlet. “I was scared for them.”
Another resident, James Nass IV, said the group sprang to action when they heard the mother calling out for her child.
“As soon as we found it was a little child in there that was the turning point,” Nass said. “We definitely needed to do something because the fire department was five minutes away.”
The group made sure the area around the SUV was clear before turning back upright and breaking out the windows to help the family escape. Chicago police and fire department arrived shortly after and said the family was not seriously hurt.
“It didn’t matter what race we were, how old we were,” Terrazas said. “We’re all just humans, and we all helped, and that little act there shows we can come together and do something.”
Chicago police are still searching for the van and its driver responsible for the accident. Police revealed that the occupants of the SUV were all in good condition.
Watch the video report below for more details:
Sources: OpposingViews, CBS Chicago
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