tow truck driver and A&M professor credited with rescuing crash victims

School STATION, Texas (KBTX) -Times just after a fiery crash claimed one particular person’s life and wounded several other folks, we are studying extra about the heroes who emerged to assist avert an now tragic predicament from worsening.

A University Station police officer, a tow truck driver who is also a volunteer firefighter, and a Texas A&M University professor all risked their life early Sunday morning by liberating two people trapped inside burning vehicles.

The crash transpired on Freeway 6 in School Station when an SUV collided with a shuttle bus transporting passengers from Santa’s Wonderland to Article Oak Shopping mall. The affect resulted in both equally autos catching on hearth.

For numerous times soon after the accident, some of the identities of the bystanders who helped rescue the bus driver and the passenger of the SUV remained a mystery.

KBTX uncovered and confirmed in the course of the 7 days that 1 of those heroes is Texas A&M College professor and mechanical engineer John Haglund, who was amid the initial on the scene subsequent the wreck and wasted no time leaping in to assistance out.

Haglund was touring behind the bus when the collision happened and he stopped promptly to help the injured bus driver and Rudder Superior College mentor Calvin Hill. Haglund explained in a assertion to KBTX that he attempted three situations to absolutely free Hill from the bus but was unsuccessful until finally a police officer arrived on the scene and pulled Hill out. The warmth from the hearth triggered resulted in Haglund getting 2nd & 3rd-diploma burns to his encounter, neck & arms. He was also addressed at Memorial Hermann healthcare facility in Houston at the burn up heart the place Hill is also currently being handled for his burns.

“He was able to communicate with some of the coach’s family members these days, as his space was only a few doorways down from John’s place, and it was quite emotional,” Haglund’s sister tells KBTX in a assertion. “His biggest concern is for the nicely-being of the bus driver & his family members. His injuries are not wherever close to what Coach Hill is dealing with. We do not want nearly anything, just prayers & very good wishes.”

Haglund was introduced on Wednesday.

Raymond Charanza, a tow truck driver and volunteer firefighter with Brazos County ESD #2, was a further excellent samaritan who noticed the crash and jumped into motion.

Charanza claims he came across the chaotic scene on the freeway right after missing his exit, which may have been destiny and a blessing.

Charanza states the moment he saw the flames, he place his teaching as a firefighter into motion.

“When we rolled up on the vehicles on fireplace and recognized that, we promptly stopped, jumped out, and rushed around to support the citizens that were being currently there when I encountered a young lady in a car screaming that she required aid to get out,” claimed Charanza.

The female he assisted rescue was Chernetris Machon McGinty, of Navasota. McGinty was the passenger of an SUV pushed by her boyfriend Anthony Dewayne Johnson who died at the scene.

“I uncovered a way into the car and was in a position to unbuckle her and pull her out of the car or truck securely. Sadly, when I was in a position to get again to get to Mr. Johnson he had now succumbed to his injuries and there was nowhere, or way for me to actually get him out,” claimed Charanza.

The delicate-spoken Charanza suggests the teamwork from legislation enforcement, initially responders, and other bystanders Sunday is just a single of the quite a few points that make the Brazos Valley a good spot to do the job, live and increase a loved ones.

“I are not able to just take whole credit history for any of it for the reason that it took all of us in the community,” stated Charanza. “We all joined with each other to assist these people in their time of need to have and ideally you know transform these people’s lives for the greater, demonstrate that the neighborhood is potent and we’re listed here for each other.”

Two Texas A&M students who have been also on the bus when the collision occurred were being in a position to escape with only small accidents.

Higher education Station law enforcement say the result in of the crash stays underneath investigation.

Updates from police this 7 days did not discover the officers and Brazos County deputy who also assisted in the rescues.

“This is a tragic scenario for everybody included and we want to specific our deepest sympathy to the people afflicted. We also want to publicly thank all of the citizens that put by themselves in harm’s way that attempted to pull Mr. Hill out of the bus and the wrecker driver for saving the everyday living of Miss McGinty,” claimed Faculty Station Public Info Officer David Simmons.

At the time of this report, the two McGinty and Hill stay in a hospital recovering from their accidents. Click on below to study additional about fundraisers for the victims and their families.

Copyright 2022 KBTX. All legal rights reserved.