Good Samaritans Pull Teen From Fiery Crash In Broken Arrow

By Craig Day and NewsOn6.com

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is looking for two good Samaritans who pulled a teenager out of a burning car Wednesday morning.

The teen's car crashed into a concrete barrier outside a toll booth on the Creek Turnpike just after 7 a.m. Wednesday, causing the car to burst into flames and sending the 18-year-old male driver to a Tulsa hospital. 

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the 1994 Mercury Topaz was eastbound on the Creek Turnpike at Olive when it hit a guardrail, causing the guardrail to collapse and throwing the car into the concrete barrier. 

The OHP identified the driver as Kaleb Neiswender of Sapulpa.  Troopers say he told them he thinks he fell asleep.

He also told OHP troopers that two other drivers on their way to work pulled him out of the wreckage, not just one as previously reported. 

"The kid had been removed from the vehicle by two unknown persons who laid him in the grass and left," said Tulsa Fire Department Captain Mike Owen. Owen and his wife, a former trauma nurse, drove upon the accident while on their way to work.

Owen called for Broken Arrow emergency crews and alerted a hospital trauma team to be ready. Those emergency crews then took over and got him to the hospital.

The OHP said those two drivers continued on to their destinations once emergency crews arrived.  Troopers don't know who they are but hope to find them in order to thank them for what they did.

"A lot of good people travel up and down these roadways," said Lieutenant George Brown of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. "This is just one instance of somebody going out of their way to help save somebody else's life and we're thankful for that."

According to the OHP, he was admitted to the hospital in critical condition with injuries to his head, torso, arms and legs.

The OHP said Neiswender underwent surgery to repair damage to his heart apparently caused by the collision.

The eastbound off ramp from the Creek Turnpike to Olive was closed because of the accident.

Besides the quick action of everyone involved from the Samaritans to the emergency crews, two other things helped to save the teen's life.

The toll booth barriers did their job and absorbed much of the impact of the crash.

Also, the teen was wearing his seatbelt.