PSE&G workers rescue man trapped under truck in Newark
Eric Krainski, Chris Meyler and Jordan DeFalco have more than 20 years of combined experience on the job, but they said they’ve never encountered anything like what happened Tuesday afternoon.
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A group of PSE&G gas workers rescued a man in Newark after he became trapped under a box truck.
"We were working on the street, and out of nowhere, we heard a big commotion...they were calling us for help," said PSE&G worker Chris Meyler.
Eric Krainski, Chris Meyler and Jordan DeFalco have more than 20 years of combined experience on the job, but they said they’ve never encountered anything like what happened Tuesday afternoon.
"There was a gentleman who was trying to change his tire on his box truck, and I guess the jack slipped. It ended up crushing his leg. So, he was pinned underneath the vehicle," Meyler said.
When the crew reached the scene, they tried to help neighbors lift the truck by hand.
"It was just too heavy," Meyler said.
Thinking quickly, the crew turned to the equipment at their work site.
"I ended up going back, retrieving the backhoe and bringing it back. I utilized the front bucket of the backhoe, put it under the rear of the box truck and was able to lift it up and we were able to pull the man out to safety," Meyler said. "If we didn't have that, who knows how long he would've been under there."
The entire rescue took less than four minutes, according to the workers. They told News 12 they had no hesitation about stepping in.
"I just reacted on instinct. You see someone in trouble. You try to help them. That's it," said Krainski.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after the crew freed the man, and he is now receiving medical care.
