BELLEVUE, Wash. — New video shows the moments King County deputies and a group of good Samaritans jumped into action and rescued a man from a car engulfed in flames.
KING 5 spoke with Jacob Shook Wednesday in his hospital room at Harborview Medical Center. He was the driver trapped inside a fiery car crash earlier this month. He doesn't recall much, but he's relieved to be alive.
"I very could have very easily could've died and been dead and not be here right now,” said Shook. "Six broken ribs, a burst bladder, third-degree burns up and down both of my legs. Burn on my foot and a bad burn on my hand, which is healing up."
These injuries are the result of a crash that happened while he was driving home from work. "Starting to fall asleep, [thinking] I need to find somewhere to park,” said Shook. “And then the next thing I know, waking up to my loved ones standing around me in the hospital."
On Oct. 9, Shook veered off Newcastle Golf Club Road, near 136th Avenue Southeast.
Body cameras recorded King County deputies and several citizens responding. Video shows deputies deploying fire extinguishers and trying to open Shook’s door.
"It looked like an inferno in there. It looked like what you would've imagined hell is like. Like every time they would lift the airbag thing, it's just smoke and flames you know what I mean. To imagine I was just sitting in there… Thank God I don't remember that," said Shook.
A deputy used a knife to cut the seatbelt but still couldn’t get him out. Within minutes, Bellevue Fire arrived at the scene, doused the flames and pried open the door.
“I'm very happy he's alive. We could very easily be burying him," said Jacob’s mother, Lou Ann Shook.
She has been by his side since the crash happened. They are both grateful for the courage of strangers.
"To the deputies, to the civilians and just my gratitude and thankfulness to them to be willing to put their safety on the line to get me out of that car," said Shook.
Shook said he'll be in the hospital for at least another four weeks. Meanwhile, KCSO said the accident is still an open and active investigation.
Shook’s family created an online fundraiser to help raise money for his medical bills.