Incredible video: Truck crash, rescue effort caught on camera

BROOMALL, Pennsylvania -- Incredible video captures the moment a tractor trailer overturned in Pennsylvania, and the effort of Good Samaritans to rescue the driver.

Troopers at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks are still investigating, but now this gripping video may shed some light on what exactly happened.

The video shows the point of impact when a tractor trailer flipped over, ultimately shutting down the highway for about seven hours.

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"I'm still in shock it was happening in front of my eyes," said Victor Alarcon.

Alarcon said for several minutes before he began recording, the tractor trailer already looked like it was in trouble.

Watch the full video of the moment a tractor trailer overturned on the Blue Route, and the rescue effort that ensued.

"I said, 'Hold on. I think something is going on here.' Either he is playing around with an 18 wheeler, seems to be crazy to be playing around, or he is falling asleep at the wheel," Alarcon said.

Alarcon spoke only with Action News on Tuesday to describe what he saw and caught on camera.

The 18-wheeler swerved lane to lane on I-476 northbound approaching the Broomall exit.

"I kind of expected what was going to happen. Didn't want it to happen, but there was no way to stop it," Alarcon said.

Then about a minute and a half into his recording, there's the violent crash.

"I thought he was dead from the crash," he said.

Overturned truck slows traffic on I-476 NB at Rt. 3 in Broomall. Sharrie Williams reports during Action News at 5 p.m. on July 3, 2017.

The truck hit hard, spewing fluids and the contents of the trailer across the road, completely shutting down northbound traffic Tuesday afternoon.

Alarcon, his father and another man rushed to the cabin, but said the man inside was non-responsive.

"We couldn't get an answer from him. Even though we keep calling him, 'Are you OK? Are you OK?' He didn't answer," Alarcon said.

Alarcon said doesn't think alcohol was involved and guesses that the driver was tired.

Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating.

"I didn't smell any alcohol or see any alcohol bottles in the cabin. So, I believe he probably fell asleep, tiredness. It was probably a long drive," he said.

Alarcon says when first responders pulled the driver out, he was breathing, but may have had a broken arm.

State police say he was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.