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Houston city councilwoman helps pull driver from burning vehicle
06:54 PM CDT on Monday, August 18, 2008
HOUSTON -- A Houston City Councilwoman helped pull a driver from the rubble of a fiery crash on the Westpark Tollway Sunday.
Investigators called the whole heroic scene “incredible.”
Jolanda Jones and three other Good Samaritans saved a woman after her car flew off the tollway near Highway 59 and plunged 70 feet to the ground, eventually bursting into flames.
“It would have been really bad to watch her burn to death,” Jones said. “I’m like, oh my gosh, they’re dead, they’re dead.”
Jones and her son, Jio, were headed home from a concert when they saw the woman’s car careen off the road.
“When I looked over, I saw a car flying off like in ‘Back to the Future,’” Jio Jones said.
The councilwoman and her son rushed to help. Two other Good Samaritans were already at the scene.
They found the female driver in the rubble, crying out in pain.
“I’m like, man I’m not letting this lady die – not on my watch,” the elder Jones said.
After a little work, the group extracted the woman from the rubble. Seconds later, all they saw was fire.
“It really was like a Hollywood movie. The car, the insides, it just burst into flames,” the younger Jones said.
The group stayed with the woman until paramedics arrived.
Councilwoman Jones has worn several hats in her time: city legislator, defense attorney, contestant on “Survivor.” But none of those hats can compare to the one she wore Sunday—life saver.
“She’s always been my hero, so she’s just my superhero,” her son said.
Investigators said the woman who crashed was taken to Ben Taub with several broken bones. They said the chances of her surviving the ordeal are good.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Inside KHOU.com
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