Amazing video: Bystanders lift car to save biker

(CBS News) 

A fiery rescue in Utah was caught on tape Monday.

A car hit a motorcycle in Logan. The bike slid under the car, trapping the rider under the car as flames burst out.

Grad student Chris Garff, who shoots video of lectures and school events for Utah State University, happened to be there when it happened, and began getting the scene on video.

Half a dozen people tried the lift the blazing BMW.

"We were cheering them on, like 'Get that car up! Get that guy outta there!" Garff says.

No luck.

Then, a flood of people swarmed the car and crane it managed to lift it into the air.

A construction worker dragged the limp body from under the 4,000 pounds of steel.

"It felt like he was motionless for a very, very long. It felt like forever," Garff says. "I thought he was a goner."

But then, as one witness described it, "He's moving! No freakin' way!"

The man, 21, was rushed to a hospital where, police say, he's in stable condition with broken bones and minor burns.

"Absolutely," says Garff, the Good Samaritans "are heroes."

[Brown4675]

Well said, such bravery. But what about the guy in the suit? I could not believe it, no expression on his face. I could understand bad back, heart condition, but his face registered nothing.

[dantom39]

Could that happen in New York?

[kbbpll]

The long version of the video is here http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_de406724-de30-11e0-aee7-001cc4c03286.html

I've decided the burning car represents America, the guy underneath is Lady Liberty, and the guy in the suit is the Republican Party.

[rwsmith29456]

EXCELLENT!

[UCJT]

Scott Pelley just said the accident victim's name on the 6:30 PM news. There is a thing called HIPAA, CBS!!! Did you just break a privacy law? Show us the release!!!

[kelce02]

CBS is not bound by the rules of HIPAA. It's an act that binds the health care provider.

[Scimajor]

4000 lbs./8 people = 500 lbs/person. Even taking into partial account that the car was about half supported by the other tires that's around 250 lbs. lifted per person (yes, very rough estimates here). WOW! Adrenaline is an amazing substance.

[Scimajor]

See above where it says "Yes, very rough estimates here"

For example, I did not take into account that the car's cg is not at the centre of the vehicle. I also glossed over the fact that they were essentially using a third class lever with the tires on the other side being the fulcrum.

As for the weight it depends on the vehicle. A Toyota Corolla weighs in at about 2500 lbs whereas a Ford Expedition weighs a hefty 5800 lbs. I'm not a car person so I have no clue what model of vehicle it is but it seems possible that 4000 lbs is a good rough estimate as the vehicle in question appears larger than a Corolla but smaller than an Expedition.

You also have to remember that lifting a barbell is not the same as lifting a car. One can hardly say that a car has nice convenient hand holds. Watch the video and it's quickly apparent that this is hardly an ideal situation in which to lift an object heavy or otherwise. Also, check out some of the people lifting, the woman can't be more than 120 lbs. soaking wet.

Lastly, it was not my intention to come up with anywhere near an exact calculation nor was it my intention to infer some sort of miraculous event (if you knew me you'd snicker at that suggestion). I was simply suggesting that under normal circumstances such a lift would be problematic at best and that the adrenaline rush of the situation was an important factor in making it possible in this instance.

[newsguy2323]

Glad to see people helping out a person in distress. Now if only this country would make it harder for incapable drivers to get a license, things like this wouldn't half to happen.

Motorcyclists are sick of being injured and killed for America's right to drive badly.

[Scimajor]

It would be wonderful if everyone on the road (motorcyclists, car drivers and bicyclists) understood that the rules of the road apply to everyone. 90% of people in two of the above mentioned categories do not understand this simple concept.

Bicyclists, for example routinely blow through stop signs because they don't want to stop and start up again. I'm sorry but if you want to use the road you need to follow the rules or expect to suffer the consequences of your actions.

[blssd1]

@Newster1: I sincerely apologize to you for those who have hurt you in the past who professed to be Christians. In my experience when someone reacts like you did to someone else's "thank God" its usually because some nominal Christian has failed to be loving or actively hurt you. Believe me, I'm a loving Christian and I voted for Obama and you wouldn't believe how that caused some of my "Christian" friends to excommunicate me!! That said, I respect your feelings, so please try respect other people's constitutional rights? You can choose to belittle them, but all it does is reveal the deeply buried pain in your heart. If you've never experienced the supernatural, I totally understand where you are coming from. But I've experienced God's goodness and the evil He came to combat (and that's the way it is because that's how free will operates). Too much to explain here, but know that I respect your feelings and hope my apology on behalf of your past hurts is sincerely received.

[Scimajor]

Hey dude. There's plenty of evidence of Santa. I have several pictures of him with my kids on the fireplace mantel. All you have to do is to head over to the local mall in December and you can see him for yourself.

I've yet to meet and/or see pictures of anyone claiming to be a diety though. You'd think there'd be SOME sort of evidence but alas there is none.

[onebrickshy]

You notice they were smart enough to scatter as soon as he was free that way no one was left to sue,

[LianaNadine]

I noticed that too! As soon as they drug him out, everyone ran away from him like HE was the one about to explode! What the hell?

[kbbpll]

Woman in white/gray, gray-haired man in turquoise, man in blue, man in white, construction guy in red, man in dark red (the first responders); other man in blue, man in yellow, two more construction guys in orange vests; running in - guy with black t-shirt, college kid in green with backpack, construction guy in green, construction guy in orange, college guy in rose:

I know it sounds trite these days to call you all heroes, but you are.

Particularly the (college age?) woman in white and the man in turquoise, who led the charge. You don't see it in this shorter version, but that young lady sprawled on the pavement next to a flaming motorcycle to assess the situation and then called in the troops. I want my daughters to grow up just like you, whoever you are.