Last week, a truck accident victim in Southern California spent five days buried in a 100-foot ravine until a bystander reportedly spotted the wreck, heard cries for help, and saw the man flung from the truck.
On the morning of September 2, a caller reported that a man was hurt and at the base of a 100-foot cliff, prompting the Kern County Fire Department to go to Comanche Point Road, outside of Bakersfield. Since Tuesday, August 29, the man “had been immobile at the bottom of the ravine.”
According to the department, his pickup truck that was “badly damaged” was also at the bottom of the gully.
Four firefighters were lowered down the gorge using a “rope rescue system” the department devised. The individual was then cautiously raised to safety after being placed into a basket by firefighters.
The Kern County Fire Department reported that after that, he was taken to a nearby hospital.
When Cory Sizelove, 50, and his friend noticed the truck at the bottom of the ravine, they made the decision to go for a morning motorbike ride.
Sizelove recalled, “I switched off my motorcycle and removed my helmet, then I noticed him screaming for help down there.” But despite the fact that he was no longer inside the truck due to his ejection during the collision, I was unable to see where he was.
In order to confirm if the driver was ejected from the vehicle, NBC News has asked the Kern Fire Department for more details about the collision.
After some searching, they located the man approximately 30 to 40 feet from the totaled car, according to Sizelove, who spoke with “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” on Thursday. While his friend dialed 911, Sizelove rode his bike down into the embankment.
He claimed that the fact that he & his friend were able to find the man was a miracle.
Sizelove stated, “Because it’s quite far down there, I was just wishing that I didn’t find somebody that had passed away.” “I was astonished and truly surprised and amazed that somebody had lived through that.”
Sizelove reported that the man requested water as his first request. Then, the man requested to call his wife.
Sizelove claimed that as they waited for assistance, he did his best to keep the man from moving and to keep him out of the sun. He stated the man was complaining of back pain but didn’t seem to be bleeding.
According to Sizelove, “He managed to sit there & hold his head in the palms of his hands while supporting his head a little bit.” The most he could manage was to essentially remain still.
Calvin Smith, the driver, identified himself in a KTLA interview on Wednesday and claimed that his truck had fallen down an embankment.
He admitted to the news channel that he had broken his back and ribs because he was unable to move until help arrived.
“Please don’t let me die out here,” Smith pleaded with God again, according to KTLA. It was extremely cold at night and extremely hot during the day.