Good Samaritans aid driver following wreck

After a big truck ran off the road Friday and wrecked west of Tucumcari, nearly a dozen Good Samaritans lifted the mangled cab off the driver, gave him first aid and comfort, then cleared a path through the debris so first responders could airlift the injured man to a hospital.

Quay County sheriff's deputy Clay Huffman recounted the "heart warming acts of humanity" in a post Friday evening on Facebook, which was shared more than 1,600 times and drew nearly 350 comments by Monday morning.

Other people - including the truck driver's wife and a nursing student who administered aid at the scene - also recounted their stories about the accident or wrote notes of appreciation.

Huffman wrote he was sent to the accident at mile marker 318 on westbound Interstate 40 at noon Friday. He said the semi had left the road and hit an embankment, causing its cargo of dish soap and hand sanitizer to crash through the front of the trailer and rip the cab off its frame. He said the driver, later identified as Jimmy Szoyka of Piedmont, Missouri, was partly thrown from the cab and trapped underneath.

"Numerous passing motorists who witnessed the carnage first hand stopped and rushed to his aid," Huffman wrote, "assuming the worst as they went. Then by some miracle they heard the male voice underneath. These people all worked together and LIFTED THE SEMI CAB OFF OF THIS MAN!!"

Huffman later identified Ciara Lackey, a nursing student at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma, as a key bystander who gave aid to the driver. Lackey cleaned, bandaged and applied a tourniquet to Szoyka's lacerated leg.

According to one of Lackey's parents who posted observations and photos on Facebook from the scene, paramedics who arrived praised her work that prevented severe blood loss by the driver.

"It is something I will never forget," Lackey stated in a text message Sunday. "The kindness from everyone there was a fresh reminder of humanity and togetherness, especially in today's world. The act of selflessness from everyone involved was so inspiring. For me personally it was great reminder of how nursing is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus. It is a real life miracle."

Huffman stated the act by the bystanders "undoubtedly" saved Szoyka's life. He estimated about 10 people aided him.

When the medics and emergency crews arrived, Huffman noted the piles of debris strewn around the crash scene and said a path needed to be cleared to the ambulance.

"Without hesitation everybody jumped back into action and a path was cleared about 5 foot wide and 20 feet long in probably 2 minutes," Huffman wrote. "This man was easily carried to the awaiting ambulance with all the people more than willing to help this complete stranger and save his life."

Huffman said a woman called Szoyka's wife to inform him of the accident, and most of the bystanders didn't leave until medics airlifted him away about 20 to 30 minutes later.

Referring to protests and unrest across the country sparked by George Floyd's death by a Minneapolis police officer, Huffman said Friday's acts at the crash were an uplifting moment for him.

"It was really refreshing to see people come together," Huffman said during a telephone interview Saturday, "especially during this time when everything's so tense with the riots and stuff. It was amazing how everyone came together."

Szoyka's wife, Melinda, stated in a text message her husband was "doing OK," but "he's very sore." She added he had surgery on his injured left leg at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, and would undergo surgery for a broken wrist.

"I want to thank everyone who helped my husband yesterday; they saved his life and our family is very grateful," she stated Saturday. "I spoke with him today and let him know how much love and compassion was shown yesterday from complete strangers and he says he's so grateful and lucky so many came out of their way to help him because he's very sure without the immediate response he wouldn't be able to come home to our 3 children and myself."

Melinda set up an online fundraiser to help cover her husband's medical expenses at facebook.com/donate/

867296783767722/.

Huffman said the driver told him he lost control of the truck while drinking a soda. A guardrail also sustained heavy damage during the crash.

The New Mexico State Police, which investigated the accident, reported "for reasons unknown," the westbound truck continued straight instead of navigating slight left curve just before the accident. The report didn't state whether tickets were issued.