The elderly driver of an Amplify Orange C8 Corvette coupe had to be pulled from his car by rescuers after slamming into the rear of a semi-truck on a California freeway Thursday morning.
Officer Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol Newhall Area Office, said the crash happened around noon on the northbound side of the 5 Freeway near Hasley Canyon Road in Castaic.
“Initial call came out as a speeding car with several missed crashes,” Greengard said.
The rescue was broadcast live on Los Angeles TV stations Thursday afternoon, with aerial video from the scene showing several firefighters working tirelessly to free the 77-year-old driver of the Corvette, which wound up with its front half pinned under the rear of the big rig’s trailer. The accident appears to have happened on the shoulder of the road.
The rescue took about 30 minutes to complete, and the driver was then taken to the hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown at this time, but on the bright side, KCAL News reported he was gesturing to firefighters with his heavily bandaged left arm during the rescue.
The big rig driver apparently was not injured in the crash, and his truck appeared to have suffered minimal damage.
Authorities said the northbound No. 2, 3, and 4 lanes of the freeway were closed for at least an hour after the crash, causing traffic delays in the area.