Sapulpa Teen Injured In Car Crash Meets Good Samaritans Who Helped Save His Life

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

UNDATED -- A Sapulpa teen who almost lost his life when he crashed his car into the toll booth barriers almost two months ago got to meet the good Samaritans who saved his life Friday.

7/15/2010 Related Story: Good Samaritans Pull Teen From Fiery Crash In Broken Arrow

Kaleb Neiswender, 18, was on his way to work, around seven in the morning when he fell asleep at the wheel. His car slammed into the barrier outside a toll booth on the Creek Turnpike and caught fire.

"Two people appeared, pulled him out of the car, laid him in the grass, and left," said Mike Owen. "And that's when we pulled up."

Tulsa Fire Captain Mike Owen was taking his wife, who's a nurse, to work.

"Told me you were going to die. And I said, not today," Traci Owen told Kaleb.

That's when Kaleb stopped breathing. He had a collapsed lung, was bleeding into the sac around his heart, and his liver was severed nearly in half, but the Owens were able to keep him alive until paramedics arrived.

Captain Owen says it was just 48 minutes from the moment Kaleb slammed into that barrier until he was being wheeled into surgery.

He's got an impressive scar and a stripe from his seatbelt, but otherwise he's perfectly fine.

"They're lifesavers," Neiswender said. "I mean they're amazing."

Mike and Traci say it was a team effort that saved Kaleb's life. And they can't help giving a little advice to the young man, who's now like a son.

"You've been given a second chance," Mike Owen said. "You better make it good! Or we will track you down."