A man has serious injuries after a crash in Willimantic on Sunday and witnesses rescued a pedestrian who was pinned under a car during the crash.
Witnesses told police a station wagon hit a parked van on Jackson Street, near the Carey Street intersection, around 6 p.m. and police officers found a female pinned underneath the van.
The station wagon hit the parked van, forcing it forward and on top of the woman, according to witnesses.
The wagon then crossed the street and crashed into hedges in front of a nearby home.
"She was looking at me in intense pain," Ed Rivera, a neighbor, said. “So, the tire did run her over and she was pinned underneath."
[har] Woman Was Pinned Under Car in Willimantic
Emergency crews extricated the victim and transported her to Windham Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
Police said it could have been far worse if Rivera had not acted so quickly.
"I was right in front of the vehicle. I was on the passenger side, pushing the vehicle away, off of her, and she was reaching out to me for help. So, I pulled her from underneath to make sure that it would save her life," Rivera said. "I don't know where I got the strength to push the vehicle back and pull her from underneath."
Rivera comforted the victim on the sidewalk until paramedics arrived to take over.
Lifestar flew the man who was driving the station wagon to Hartford Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition as of Sunday
The road was shut down for several hours as police investigated.
Police are investigating and looking it several possible contributing factors to the crash.
Anyone with information should call Willimantic police at 860 465 3135.
