Jamie Blount was on the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel when he saw disaster happen right before him. Wednesday morning, State Police said a car cut off a tractor trailer driver. The tractor trailer hit the guardrail.
"My immediate reaction was I'm getting ready to watch a truck go into the James River," said Jamie.
It didn't hit the water. The 18-wheeler hit a utility truck. Jamie ran to the rescue. He's a York County firefighter who just got off a 24-hour shift.
Jamie said he grabbed a fire extinguisher to try and put out the fire in the tractor trailer. The fire was too big. With the flames spreading, he got the big rig driver to safety. He had to use some muscle to rescue the other driver. He wasn't conscious.
"Proceeded to get my firefighters' helmet and smashed out the passenger side window and climbed in through the window," he said.
Jamie got the man and then got to safety. Jamie has worked for the York County Fire Department for four months. He's been a volunteer firefighter for 18 years. While many are calling him a hero, Jamie said it is just part of the job.
"That's the funny thing about firefighters," he said. "On duty or off, you are always a firefighter. Not only is it a career. It's our lifestyle."
The driver of the utility truck has been released from the hospital. The driver of the tractor trailer had to be flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
