Two homeless Santa Cruz men are credited with saving the life of a man trapped in his burning car in Tuesday’s 21-car wreck on Highway 1.
KSBW television says Robert Woodlief and John Thompson watched the accident take place and saw a small sedan burning with an unconscious man trapped behind the wheel.
The men say the driver wasn’t moving and his seatbelt was stuck.
Woodlief and Thompson used a box cutter and pocket knife to cut the seatbelt away and then pulled the man to safety.
Both men are Santa Cruz natives who live in a homeless camp near the River Street bridge. Woodlief worked construction for 30 years before suffering a serious injury and leaving work. Thompson told Channel 8 that he is working to overcome personal issues.
The victim remains hospitalized with serious burn injuries.
