Car overturns underneath tractor trailer in Yonkers

YONKERS (WABC) -- It was a frantic scene in Yonkers on Friday afternoon, when three people, including a little girl were trapped in their car, upside-down under a tractor trailer, as Good Samaritans like Don Hillge tried to help.

"Just wanted to make sure everybody was still alive, see what I could do to help them," says Hillge, "there was a small child in the backseat - she wasn't complaining of any injuries."

Hilge says that he and a Yonkers Police Department officer helped the girl out through the window after she took her seatbelt off.

The unusual crash happened around 4:30 Friday afternoon on the Southbound Thruway in Yonkers. A red car somehow flipped and wedged itself under the trailer. Even seasoned firefighters were surprised at what they saw.

"This is a very unusual situation. Cars under tractor trailers are known as an underride - that in itself is unusual, but to have the car actually upside-down and pinned under is extra unusual," says Yonkers Fire Department Assistant Chief John Flynn.

First responders managed to cut the two adults from the car. All three victims were rushed to Jacobi Hospital.

As workers cleared the accident away, firefighters said the three victims were going to be okay - an outcome that was simply astonishing to eyewitnesses who feared the worst.