Stranger Lifts ORV Off Injured Teen in Terre Haute

A stranger's split-second decision to help turned a potentially tragic accident into a story of hope in Terre Haute, Indiana.

On January 8, a 19-year-old man was riding his off-road vehicle along Hutchinson Street when something went wrong. He drove into a ditch, and the ORV flipped, trapping him underneath the heavy machine.

But someone was watching. A passerby who happened to be nearby didn't hesitate or wait for help to arrive.

The good Samaritan rushed over and lifted the ORV off the injured teen, freeing him from what could have been a much worse situation. By the time conservation officers arrived at 1:49 p.m., the young man was already out from under the vehicle.

Emergency crews airlifted the teen to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He arrived in stable condition with a back injury, officials from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources reported.

The teen had been wearing a helmet during the accident, which likely protected him from more serious head injuries. Combined with the stranger's quick help, those two factors may have saved his life.

Sunny's Take

This story reminds us that everyday heroes walk among us. The passerby didn't have special training or equipment, just the courage to act when someone needed help.

We don't know the good Samaritan's name, but their willingness to step in made all the difference. While the teen faces recovery ahead, he's alive and stable because someone chose to help instead of just calling 911 and waiting.

Sometimes being a hero is as simple as showing up when it matters most.