GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — Several people in Caldwell County scrambled to help a driver after he hit a gas pump Thursday, starting a large fire.
The crash happened in Granite Falls along Highway 321A.
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Inside the business, the clerk raced to raced to reach the emergency fuel cut off, while police said other bystanders had already grabbed fire extinguishers.
"They were shooting up pretty high, burning hard and fast and high, and I had to hurry,” store clerk Tom Kirby said.
"Bystander grabbed an extinguisher and tried to get some of the fire that was still at the pump out. We did that and then tried to get him out the best we could,” Capt. Brine Branham, with the Granite Falls Police Department, said.
Police believe the driver slammed into the back of a dump truck, then ended up reversing and hitting the pump.
Friends of the driver were at the crash scene and said they are thankful for the people who tried to help.
"People running over just gives me faith in humanity,” Brittany Shupe said. “Normally people get scared and run the other way. Makes me feel better to know that anyone would do that to save somebody's life."
Firefighters had to cut the roof off to get the driver safely out.
Police said the driver was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.