An Anna, Texas police officer responded to a scene of an SUV who crashed into a tree on a rainy night. Just seconds after asking the victim if she was alright, a truck passing by lost control and slammed into the victim’s car, nearly hitting them both.
Dash cam footage captured the incident on Sept. 7 on County Road 373, KHOU11 News reported. Meghan Herrera, Anna resident and mother of two children ages eight and six, hit a tree when the heavy rains caused the roads to become slick. She called 911 and Officer Brandon Blair was the first to arrive on the scene.
“Visibly, I could see she was shaky,” Blair said.
Within seconds, Blair saw the pick-up truck headed right for them, so he grabbed Herrera and they sought safety in a nearby ditch.
“Instinctively, I just thought I need to get out of the way,” said Blair. Neither suffered from any injuries, although Blair had a few minor abrasions, NBC 5 reported.
“Within seconds I could’ve been gone, the both of us. So, I’m extremely grateful to be here,” Herrera said. “Watching that video took me back to that moment. It’s only been two weeks, but it seems like forever.”
“He’s the reason why I’m here, the reason my kids get to have me around,” Herrera added.
Herrera said she is very aware of how the outcome could have been very different. “I’m just thankful, extremely thankful,” she said.
Driver saved by Anna police officer says ‘thank you.’ –> https://t.co/w7WleaUw6N
— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) September 20, 2018
On Wednesday, Herrera visited the lobby of the Anna Police Department to thank the officer. The pair embraced, and Herrera shed tears of thanks and joy.
Relieved to be alive and well, Herrera has some anxiety since the accident when traveling on County Road 373. Her car was totaled in the accident.
“I know how thankful I was that same night to come home, and I’m sure she felt the same way,” said Officer Blair.
The driver of the pickup truck was driving on a suspended license and didn’t have any insurance, for which he received citations.
