Ag workers rescue driver in burning car

Incident occurred after singlevehicle rollover crash

Quick thinking on the part of some agricultural workers from the Blythe-based Harvest Fresh Inc. likely saved the life of a Yuma man.

After witnessing a rollover crash Saturday night, workers pulled the man from a burning car.

At about 7:15 p.m., Yuma County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Alfonso Zavala said that deputies responded to Highway 95 and Avenue 3E after a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash.

Although the cause of the accident is still under investigation, Zavala said that the sedan involved had been traveling behind a trailer moments before the driver lost control, causing the roll-over.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor,” he added.

The foreman of an agricultural crew, who was driving a farm bus, pulled over after witnessing the crash. The driver was pinned inside the vehicle and couldn’t get out due to his injures, so the foreman and some of his crew took action.

“Some of the workers pushed the vehicle back onto its wheels and got the driver out while the car was on fire,” Zavala said.

Other members of the work crew, along with other bystanders, were able to put the fire out while firefighters were en route. They also tended to the driver the best they could, and prevented him from moving until paramedics arrived.

Spokesperson Charly McMurdie said the driver of the vehicle was transported to Yuma Regional medical Center by Rural/ Metro ambulance.

Yuma Area Ag posted a nearly five-minute long video of the incident on its Facebook page.