MELBOURNE, Fla. - Drivers in Florida tried to save a victim trapped in a burning vehicle when a crash turned into a blazing fire on Interstate 95 in Brevard County.
Traffic was backed up for hours on Wednesday morning because of the deadly accident.
Jamall Curry was one of the people who didn’t hesitate to jump into harm's way. He was driving to work when he watched the crash unfold right in front of him. He and several others didn’t think twice about pulling off the road and trying to save the victim.
"I’ve seen a lot of tragedy and unfortunate situations, but this right here by far is number one," said Curry, who used to be a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force.
What he saw on Wednesday on I-95 changed his life forever.
"The fire was hot. We ran up. We ran to it. We ran to the chaos," said Curry.
A driver was trapped in a burning car on the interstate. Curry and eight others did their best to save him, telling FOX 35 News that they all attempted to extinguish the flames.
"Then we heard the gentleman not screaming anymore, so we knew what that meant," he said.
He wants the family to know they tried their very best to intervene before it was too late.
"That’s what I want the family to know," he said. "We did our best to get close to the vehicle. We did our best. We did, and it was just very unfortunate."
On Thursday, crews were trying to fix the broken guardrail. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is now investigating what happened on the highway near Exit 183 in Melbourne in the crash that killed a 22-year-old driver.
FHP Trooper Migdalisis Garcia described the scene as a "very, very hectic crash on I-95."
Five cars were involved, and this is now a traffic homicide investigation. It could take six months to a year for them to complete their case.
"Everything came from the rear, so they didn't even know what was coming in order to react accordingly," said Garcia.
Curry added he was on the scene before first responders and said people were still driving recklessly on the road.
"While we were out there, people were still driving crazy. They were still trying to get through the debris, not using patience," he said. "As I was walking across the street, to the other side to tend to the people that were injured, someone almost hit me."
Curry said he is speaking out to encourage drivers to slow down and hopefully prevent another tragedy like the one he saw firsthand.
"I pray for them for sure," said Curry to the family who were mourning the loss of their loved one.
FHP said going into the holidays the biggest crash contributors are drinking and speeding. Leave early so you aren’t rushing, and be very aware because more cars will be out on the road.
The Source: Information for this story comes from witnesses to the crash and from the Florida Highway Patrol.