Passers-By Lift Car to Rescue Pinned Pennsylvania Victim

Kristin Williams was driving to her home in Friendship from her mother's house in Green Tree early yesterday morning, looking forward to a shower and sleep, when she came across a car facing the wrong way in the eastbound lane of Bigelow Boulevard.

She stopped her car, assuming it was a minor crash. Then she saw a man pinned beneath the car.

David McMeekin, 26, had flown out the window of his vehicle during the crash and ended up beneath his still-upright car.

When Ms. Williams came upon the scene, another driver, Jake Frick, had already stopped and was calling 911 on his cell phone, she said.

Ms. Williams, 44, teamed with Mr. Frick and another motorist and her passengers to rescue the East Liberty man after the 1:40 a.m. crash near Herron Avenue. The group, which included several children, lifted the small car off Mr. McMeekin and pulled him to safety.

Mr. McMeekin was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital, where he was initially listed in serious but stable condition, police said. His brother, Jay, said he had suffered facial fractures but was going to be OK.

He could have been much worse.

"He was face down, screaming bloody murder and kicking his legs," Ms. Williams said, describing the situation when she first arrived at the scene.

Trapped by his car's undercarriage, with his legs sticking out from under the driver's side of the car and blood running along the pavement toward the passenger side, Mr. McMeekin needed help fast.

"I said to Jake, 'We can't wait for help,'" Ms. Williams said. "'He's being crushed, and he can't breathe.'"

Mr. Frick and Ms. Williams first tried to lift the car, but it was too heavy, so Ms. Williams ran to get the jack from her car.

"I got the jack, but I couldn't find the jack handle," she said. "I'm a pretty capable woman, and I know how to handle a car jack, but I couldn't believe I couldn't find the handle."

As Ms. Williams was struggling with the jack, Danita Jones and her carload of children pulled up and went to work.

"While I was fumbling with the jack, they just went over to the car and lifted it up off of him," Ms. Williams said. "I feel like I did the least of anybody. They didn't even ask for help. They just swooped right in and did it."

Police and paramedics arrived moments later.

As of yesterday evening, the McMeekin family had not been able to speak with any of the rescuers, but brother Jay wanted to let them know that his family was grateful.

"My family would just like to say thank you to all the people who helped," he said.

By yesterday evening, Ms. Williams had found the jack's handle, buried in her trunk. She said she immediately snapped it into its proper place, right next to the jack, just in case.

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