A group of Good Samaritans and police officers rushed to the aid of a 65-year-old California man who was mowed down on his bicycle by a stolen vehicle and then pinned under the car.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving down Main Street and Pacifica Avenue last week and was caught between a police chase as officers pursued a stolen Honda driven by 22-year-old Enrique Garcia.
As Garcia jumped out of the moving car, he hit the cyclist, who was pinned under the vehicle as the driver fled on foot. Five to six Good Samaritans and Watsonville Police Department officers jumped into action, lifting the car to free the trapped bicyclist.
Officers caught up with Garcia and arrested him moments later. He was jailed in the Santa Cruz County Jail and now faces charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving resulting in bodily harm and dodging a peace officer in a disregard for security.
The victim, who survived the harrowing ordeal, was taken to a hospital where he is recovering from his injuries and is in stable condition.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was driving down Main Street and Pacifica Avenue and got caught in a police chase earlier this month when officers pursued a stolen Honda driven by 22-year-old Enrique Garcia. The man who survived suffered injuries but was in stable condition, according to police
Body camera footage shows the nerve-wracking moments as the horde of Good Samaritans ran to help the injured civilian pinned under the car. The accident happened near a row of retail stores with a large parking lot.
One of the men who rushed to help was wearing dress pants and a shirt. Along with other Good Samaritans and officers, he worked to lift the massive truck off the victim and carry her to safety.
“Lift the car…Lift! … Lift! …More…More…Lift up,” one of the officers yelled. “One, two, three… go,” some of the men grunted as they freed the victim and carried her to safety.
The victim, still wearing a mask, appeared unconscious and lay listlessly on his back.
One of the officers said, “Put him on his back. Make him get on his back,” before attempting to speak to the victim in Spanish.
Marvin Luna, one of the Good Samaritans, recounted the horrific incident and told the Watsonville Police Department that he heard one of the officers scream for help as the scene unfolded.
“Five or six Good Samaritans defected in full sprint,” Luna said. “I walked over. I was between two officers. I just grabbed what I could. I saw everyone trying to jack the vehicle up.”
Watsonville Police Department Corporal Isaak Rodriguez said after the rescue how grateful he was for the help of random strangers.
“I thought we have seconds because that person is going to die if we don’t get the car off his chest. Counting seconds, he gasped and couldn’t breathe,” Rodriguez said.
Luna, who was on her lunch break at the time of the incident, said when he got back to work he shared the news with his co-workers.
“Everything went so fast. I came back to work. I have told my colleagues. “You won’t believe this,” he said as he told the story.
He added, “This is the craziest lunch I’ve ever had.”
Rodriguez thanked the Good Samaritans who helped officers save the man’s life.
“Knowing that there are people out there willing to help a complete stranger in a time of need is one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever felt,” he said.
“God knows the work you have done and in some way in the future He will repay you for that favor. Thank you very much, without you I firmly believe that this pedestrian would not be with us today.;
The Watsonville Police Department also posted the rescue on their Facebook page, calling the Good Samaritans “heroes.”
Marvin Luna, one of the Good Samaritans, recounted the horrific incident and told the Watsonville Police Department that he heard one of the officers scream for help as the scene unfolded. “Five to six Good Samaritans defected in full sprint,” he said
One of the men who rushed to help was wearing dress pants and a shirt. Along with other Good Samaritans and officers, he worked to lift the massive truck off the victim and carry her to safety
Watsonville Police Department Corporal Isaak Rodriguez expressed his gratitude to the Good Samaritans who helped officers save the man’s life. “Knowing that there are people out there willing to help a complete stranger in a time of need is one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever felt,” he said