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Crew Describes Rescuing Girl In Cement Truck Crash

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Apr 14, 2008 10:47 pm US/Central

Crew Describes Rescuing Girl In Cement Truck Crash

 SLIDESHOW: Cement Truck Crash In Dallas

Reporting
Stephanie Lucero
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―  A cement truck crashed on top of a car and a motorcycle on the afternoon of Friday, April 11 in Dallas. The accident happened along northbound I-35E, near the intersection of Highway 183, near Texas Stadium.

According to police in Dallas, the cement truck was trying to avoid another vehicle in the southbound lanes. The truck flipped over the median and into northbound traffic, striking the motorcycle first.

Devin Holt was one of the first fire fighters at the scene.

"When you see a vehicle like that, you're thinking there's no way that anyone survived," he said.

Within minutes, dozens of fire fighters and paramedics jumped into action. Their biggest concern was the truck carrying tons of liquid cement. Part of the truck landed on top of an SUV.

"Sure enough, there was just a little bitty tiny little girl in a little area just behind the mom's seat, just behind the driver's seat," he said.

That little girl was six-year-old Angelica Gamez. Her mother, Maria Angelica, died on impact.

"It breaks my heart because I know that momma is passed away, and I know this little girl doesn't have a mother any more," said Sammy Williams.

But the rescue workers had to put that aside for a while. Their biggest concern was the cement truck. If it moved or shifted in any direction, Angelica's life would be in danger.

Dallas Fire Rescue's Urban Search and Rescue Team used boards and specially designed air bags to hold the cement truck in place. This was for the fire fighter's safety, as well as the little girl's.

"She asked a couple of times about her mom and where she was and I just tried to distract her from that and talking about everything else," said Holt.

"You ask about her siblings and her family and her school, and what she liked to eat and what she likes to do - anything to keep her mind off her situation," said Williams.

Because of the cramped space Holt said he didn't get to see Angelica's face until she was in the ambulance.

"She looked up and I said hi and told her what a good job she did and then I got out of the ambulance," said Holt.

Fire fighters say it's pretty miraculous she survived, and some day they'd love to meet her.

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