Dashcam video posted to social media Monday shows a dramatic pile-up on a New York State highway that left 10 vehicles damaged and two people in serious condition.
Binghamton Mayor Rich David posted the video of last Thursday’s Route 17 crash, 286 kilometres northwest of New York, on his Facebook page.
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The video, recorded by a dashcam inside one of the impacted cars, shows debris flying as a tractor-trailer carrying stone blocks slamming into the back of several vehicles.
Once the car with the dashcam comes to a rest, the left side of the video captures another car burst into flames.
Other drivers come rushing to the vehicle to help the female driver escape the car, as one bystander puts out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
“In a time of crisis, these brave individuals navigated through flames and broken glass to save a stranger’s life,” Mayor David wrote.
David wrote that the city and police were attempting to identify those who helped the trapped woman escape.
“On behalf of our entire community, I commend these unsung heroes as well as our local police, fire and EMS first responders. Binghamton is safer because of you.”
The woman suffered minor scrapes and bruises.
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“It was just amazing; a big cloud of dust. And when it settled it was just car parts and shrapnel everywhere,” said Zemotel. “It was unexplainable.”
Another man needed to be extricated from his vehicle.
Allen Kirkpatrick, the driver of the truck, was ticketed for having inadequate brakes. Police did report that was only a contributing factor in the crash.
The accident remains under investigation.