Semi-truck driver survives major highway crash with broken leg
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) - The driver pinned inside his semi-truck during an accident on the IDL spoke to media Tuesday. He is recovering in a hospital with a broken leg from a crash that blocked traffic on the highway for several hours Monday.
Richard Hughes has been driving a semi-truck since 1980 and said he never thought he'd end up in a hospital for doing his job.
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"I think this morning it really hit when I woke up, yeah. It really hit home," said Hughes.
The truck driver said he was on his way to work before heading home driving east on the IDL.
"Coming around the corner there and I seen all these cars just stopped and there were people standing there in the roadway and I know I couldn't stop so I just took it up the hill," said Hughes.
He was driving his empty tanker truck when he saw people standing near their crashed cars on the IDL. Those drivers were trying to avoid hitting a white Nissan that was backing up on the highway because of a missed exit. To avoid hitting the group of people Hughes said he slammed on the brakes and drove up a hill.
"I just did what I had to do. I mean, I knew I wasn't going to hit them, people," said Hughes.
His truck smashed into an overhead sign post and said the first thing he thought to do when he came to the abrupt stop was pray.
"Keep me alive, praying that wouldn't be my last day, you know? I think God got his hand on me. Yeah, it was scary," said Hughes.
He's overcome with emotion now, but during the crash, Hughes said his focus was on the fire fighters working continuously to get him out of his truck.
Fire fighters said this is the kind of freak accident they train for.
"We know it's expensive and there are budget constraints in any city or state operation right now, okay, but training is important and we have to continue to spend that money and we ask that everybody support us in that. And the outcome like yesterday shows a need for that," said Stan May with the Tulsa Fire Department.
Hughes said it's a miracle he made it out with only a broken leg. He knows the crash could have been deadly and would like to thank the fire fighters who saved his life.
"They kept after it, they were great, they were good. I'm going to see them soon as I get out," said Hughes.
Hughes will be released from the hospital to go home in a couple days.
The fire department said one fire fighter also suffered any injury to the hand. He has since been treated and will be recovering at home for the next few days.
