Woman, 34, risks life to pull man from burning car: Mother of five ran toward vehicle while others scurried to escape flames
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“I heard him screaming, ‘Don’t let me burn, don’t let me burn’ and I couldn’t just let him burn to death,” said Charsie Gross, 34, who came upon the accident as she and her husband, Chris Gross, were returning from a trip to Nashville.
Mrs. Gross, who works at the maximum security prison in Nashville and resides in Warren County, said she was asleep when she was awoken by her husband when they arrived at the scene. Gross said she ran to the car while her husband tried to find the fire extinguisher he carries in his truck.
“The car was completely in flames. The tires were popping and people were running away. I guess they thought it was about to explode,” Mrs. Gross said. “I could hear him but I couldn’t find where he was until I saw his legs kind of sticking out from one of the windows. There was a deputy trying to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher so I grabbed his arms and started pulling and the deputy started pulling until he slid out.”
The victim, Timothy D. Owen, 35, was airlifted a short time later from the nearby airport. He is being treated for several injuries including burns over about 20 percent of his body.
The accident happened at 9:15 p.m. when Owen pulled his Chevy Nova from Crisp Springs Road into the path of a Volvo driven by Barbara Witty, 59, which was eastbound on Highway 70. The impact flipped Owen’s vehicle onto its top. It burst into flames shortly after the crash with the victim inside.
Mrs. Witty along with her husband, Howard Witty, 71, and an exchange student, Poompong Nanthavanij, 16, were injured and taken to River Park Hospital for treatment.
Gross admits in hindsight, she never thought of the risks associated with her act of valor and courage.
“It’s something you don’t really think about. You just do it,” Gross said. “My husband told me there’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity. But, I’m glad I did it because I couldn’t have a man burning alive on my conscience, knowing I didn’t do everything in my power to help him.”