Good samaritans risk lives to save others in fatal crash

GROVELAND, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - - A deadly Lake County crash happened early Monday morning, involving multiple vehicles, killing one person and hospitalizing four other people. Police say that is when several Good Samaritans quickly jumped into action shortly after the impact.

"I jumped out before the vehicle even stopped and dialed 911 and I ran out,” Thomas Franklin said.

Franklin was on his way to work when he saw a Dodge truck slam into a semi-truck hauling food supplies, then slide completely under it. The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. on US-27 and Independence Blvd.

"It was terrible, it was something I've never seen before in my life,” Franklin said.

More Good Samaritans rushed in to help Franklin in his efforts. Seconds later, three other vehicles plowed into the crashed semi-truck.

"It was chaos when I first pulled up,” Dan Baker, another Good Samaritan, said.

Baker slammed on his brakes, made a U-turn, and started saving lives.

“Giving water, whatever they needed, just make them feel comfortable,” Baker said. “There was a lot of blood, broken bones,”

"She had both her ankles broken, and the only way to get her out was through the back seat so I pulled her out,” Franklin said when describing how he saved a driver.

Florida Highway Patrol blames poor weather conditions for the cause of the crash.

"We do believe that fog played an issue with visibility for these drivers. There was a fog warning in the area,” FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said.

The driver of the Dodge truck, 21-year-old Kevin Cottle, died on the scene. The four other people remain hospitalized.