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A Parker County, Texas, father says he can't say "thank you" enough to a stranger who rescued him from his burning 18-wheeler after he crashed in Dallas on Wednesday morning.
"She was an angel to me," Elias Uribe said. "She's my hero."
Uribe lost control of his semi-trailer on a rain-slickened Interstate 30 near downtown. The truck burst into flames. His door was jammed shut. He remembers the fire just inches from his elbow.
"Probably 30 seconds more, and I would have caught on fire," he said.
As the flames neared, a stranger showed up from nowhere, he said.
"And then in the distance I could hear a woman screaming, 'Can you get out? Are you OK? Can you get out? It's burning,'" he said.
The voice belonged to Terry Sims, who happened to be driving by on her way to work.
"I came around, and I saw flames coming from underneath the trailer, so I pulled him out of the truck," she said soon after it happened.
Sims said she was concerned for her own safety but ran up to the burning truck anyway.
"He was in the truck, and the door wouldn't open," she said. "We had to pull him out the window. I was just so scared it was going to blow."
Sims then led Uribe to safety.
"I could barely walk, but I leaned on her, and she pulled me all the way," he said.
Within minutes, the cab was engulfed in flames.
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Uribe said Sims single-handedly saved his life -- "no doubt."
His three children -- Eliazar, 8, Elizabeth, 10, and Elias Jr., 12 -- would have been left without parents.
"I don't know if they understand, but I tell them I made it," Uribe said. "That's all that matters."
His longtime wife, Dolores, was killed in May in a car crash near their Parker County home. It makes what Sims did all the more special.
"I'd like to thank her very much," Uribe said, choking back tears. "I don't have words to say."
After all this, Uribe said he's going to take a break from driving professionally and "take some time with my kids and be with them."
"More than ever, you don't know how fragile life is," he said.
Leave a Comment:
Terry Sims , You are an angel !!
Terry Sims, you are my hero! I love you dearly!
Thank you, Terry, you are indeed a good samaritan!!! Not only that, you are a good person!!!! If only there were more like you, this country would be great again!!!!!
We need more people like her. She could've just called 911 and felt she had done her civic duty, but instead she risked her life to TRY to save his. She didn't know if she would even succeed but she tried. Too many people say "There wasn't anything I could do." She could've said the same thing but she didn't.
How wonderful that she actually got involved. It proves that there are still good people out there!
Wow! A true hero! Someone had a guardian angel... and so did his kids.
What a wonderful lady.I am thankful that Mr.Uribe's children will still have their father thanks to Terry's heroics.In spite of the daily news headlines that tell of horrific acts I'd say that this is still a beautiful world.Somebody should throw this lady a parade.
Why were the first four posters comments collapsed?Everything they said was good and perfectly nice.Their comments should be restored.
Terry Sims you are one strong, courageous woman! So glad you got him out and kept yourself out of harms way!
I saw my first MVA up close and personal when i was about 13/14 years old at the intersection of Lincoln and Highland Avenues in Orange, N.J. Sitting on the front stoop just watching the world pass by, when a 56 Ford and a 58 Chevy came together right there. The Ford was speeding big time (on Lincoln Ave) and the Chevy was pulling out after a full stop (from Highland ave) The Ford Hit the Chevy in the left rear quarter panel spinning it around to hit a fire hydrant rear end first at the opposite corner, ejecting the driver. I instinctively ran over to find an elderly lady lying half in the street and half on the curb by the fire hydrant alive. I helped her and her passenger, along with others from the neighborhood until the fire dept arrived from 4 blocks down the street. No one died that day. 20 some odd years later, I became a volunteer EMT. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that you either have it in you or you don't. This gal has it in her! Kudos, Terry Sims!!!!!!!
i see people by the road with there car, or maybe a wreck all the time and always think... should I stop... maybe I should do something. But I never do. Maybe this is a wake up call.
That's the first step. You have it in you. The second step is to not exceed your capabilities. Even helping with things like traffic control or support of any kind is helping. If it's just a disabled vehicle, call the authorities. If it's a definate MVA, stop to help safely and survey the situation so you don't become part of it.
wow
Wow-this brave woman is a true hero! She risked her own life to save another and made that decision in the critical seconds this man had left. An angel on earth! A few years back on the highway 5 minutes from my home town a trucker was cut off by an idiot weaving in and out of lanes. The trucker lost control and the rig flipped, he was trapped inside and burned to death while about 15 people (my brother included) kept trying to get the doors open to no avail. That man was a father of 3 and died an agonizing death, the people that tried desperately to save him were traumatized and the driver that cut him off got 25 years in prison. These stories don't always end well and this man is blessed to be alive. I hope some very good fortune comes her way.
What an unselfish, gutsy, heroic woman! There aren't many like people like her.
Effin awesome.
She said, "we" pulled him through the window. Of course the other rescuer won't get credit since he's a man.
bumsrush - don't assume just because she said "we" there was someone else physically present. Some people are 'team players' and always say 'we' no matter what. I do this in my job: never say 'how can I help you' but 'how can WE help' or 'contact US for additional info'. Even if I'm the one who is doing the job, there are others who provide support. When my son was in high school, he won the 'Men's World Championship' in their scientific 'sport' but ONLY referred to it as a TEAM win - even in all press reports. Ms. Sims did an amazing job - with or without - anyone else there! Besides, wouldn't Mr. Uribe have mentioned it, too, if there was someone else?
I thought the same thing, makemyday. I say "we" all the time at work even if "I" am the one doing the actual work. It could be she's modest, or misspoke, or simply didn't want to take all the credit for an amazing thing. Who knows but it's pretty sad to assume there was a man on the scene who helped but is absent from the story to further some feminist agenda. Please.
Even though she was terrified of the truck exploding, she risked her own safety to help Mr. Uribe. That is a truly noble woman.
It really makes me wonder what I would do if I was put in that situation. I can only hope I would have the same courage as Ms. Sims... She is a true hero.
SOME people have it. AND some do not.
THEN there are those jokers who like to ridicule vol. firefighters or emt personal.
THIS LADY HAS GUTS.
THANK YOU TERRY SIMMS
Terry Sims is a hero, no question. I hope she is rewarded in some way. What she did took courage, because she knew she was risking her own life and she did it anyway. Often, heroic actions happen without thought and the danger is unrecognized until after the fact. This woman knew the danger. She was scared, but she did what was necessary despite her fear. That is true courage.
I hope someone does something extra, extra nice for Terry Sims. A local spa should come forward and give her a month of free pampering, if nothing else. C'mon, Spa Habitat or Riviera Spa, this woman deserves it!
well done i wish there were more like you.
This lady is someone worth having your kids look up to.
Within city limits, a trucker driver is not supposed to exceed 50 MPH. I can guarantee this truck driver was exceeding the speed limit given the conditions.
On a rain slicked freeway, in Dallas city limits, a trucker should be going around 45 miles per hour.