Deputies and witnesses helped rescue a man from a burning car

KING COUNTY, Wash. (CNN Newsource/KING/WKRC) – Authorities in Washington are investigating a fiery crash that left one person trapped in a burning car.

Fortunately, deputies and a group of nearby good Samaritans stepped in to save him from hell.

“I could have easily died and not been here right now,” said Jacob Shook, a man rescued from a burning car.

Shook is recovering at Harborview Medical Center. He said he was just glad to be alive.

“Six broken ribs, a burst blister, third-degree burns up and down both legs, burns to the foot and a pretty bad burn to the hand that’s healing,” Shook said.

All of these injuries are the result of an accident that occurred while Shook was returning home from work.

“(I was) starting to fall asleep. «Oh, I have to find a place to park.» Then, the next thing I remember was waking up and seeing my loved ones standing around me in the hospital saying, ‘I’ve been in a coma for the last three days,'” Shook said.

Shook was driving when he turned off Newcastle Golf Club Road near 136th Avenue Southeast on Oct. 9. After the accident, body camera footage captured the moment a King County deputy and several citizens arrived on the scene.

Officers quickly used fire extinguishers but were unable to open the car doors. Shook’s voice can be heard in the background saying, “Get me out of here.”

“It looked like hell in there. It looked like you could imagine hell. Every time they raised the airbag there was just smoke and flames, you know what I mean. Imagine me just sitting there. Thank God I don’t remember that,” Shook said.

The deputy then used a knife to cut the seat belt, but was still unable to remove him from the car. Fortunately, firefighters arrived on site after a few minutes, extinguished the flames and broke down the door.

“I’m very happy that she’s alive. We could easily bury him,” said Lou Ann Shook, Jacob’s mother.

She has been with him since the accident. They are both just grateful for the courage of strangers.

“To my MPs and civilians, I only express my gratitude and gratitude for being willing to risk their safety to get me out of the car,” Shook said.

Shook said he will remain in the hospital for at least a few more weeks. His family started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his medical bills.