In a remarkable act of bravery, Lieutenant Corey Brooks of the Salisbury Police Department in North Carolina risked his life to save an unconscious driver from a burning truck.
On August 8th, Brooks witnessed a horrifying scene on Interstate 85. A tractor-trailer had crashed into the guardrails and was engulfed in flames. The driver, Michael Williams, was unconscious inside the burning vehicle.
Faced with a life-or-death situation, Brooks made the courageous decision to rescue the driver. He said to Queen City News, “This truck can go at any time and I was thinking ‘I am either going to die here with him or I am going to get him out of here’”. Despite the danger, Brooks ran down a line of burning fuel to reach the cab of the truck.
In the nick of time, Brooks managed to unlatch the seatbelt and pull the unconscious driver out of the truck. In a surprising turn of events, an unidentified individual wearing an Argentina National Football Team shirt appeared to help Brooks carry Williams to safety. This unknown helper, referred to as an “angel” by Brooks, disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
Just minutes after the daring rescue, an explosion erupted from the direction of the semi. Miraculously, Williams survived the ordeal and made a full recovery.
Brooks, a law enforcement veteran of 25 years, described the incident as the scariest moment of his career. The Salisbury Police Department released body cam footage of the rescue, which has been likened to a scene straight out of a Die Hard film.
This act of heroism adds to Brooks’ commendations, which include the City of Salisbury Bronze Keys of Excellence, Salisbury Police Veteran Officer of the Year, the 2016 Blue Line Brotherhood Award, and Lion’s Club Salisbury Police Veteran of the Year. His courage and quick thinking undoubtedly saved a life that day, making him a true hero in the eyes of his community.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the everyday heroes among us, who risk their lives for the safety of others. Stay safe and keep spreading the good news!
The KTruth