Paul Craney was among those who rushed over to help when a box truck rolled over during a crash on I-495 in Berlin, leaving behind a field of debris. He said his role was breaking a language barrier to comfort the passenger and driver, who did not speak any English.
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A driver has to be pulled from a field of debris after a box truck rolled over during a crash on Interstate 495 in Berlin, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a social media that the crash occurred on I-495 north, just prior to Route 62. State police later said the crash occurred around 1 p.m.
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Paul Craney was on the highway when he saw the emergency and ran toward it.
“When you see the victims in a car that’s smoking. You just want to see if you can help.”
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A medical helicopter landed at the scene and I-495 north was temporarily shut down. Before that flight arrived, Craney and several others helped the two men from Brazil who were inside the truck by using his conversational Spanish to break through a language barrier.
Craney said they had just arrived in America in December, and only one of them was fit to walk away from the crash.
“As we were approaching, the vehicle was smoking and the passenger was able to walk out of the vehicle. It was pretty devastating sight because it was a vehicle that rolled on the highway going 80 mph”
State police said the driver suffered serious injuries. He was going in and out of consciousness while Craney was there. He said he fought to keep the man alert.
"Asking him what's his name? Where's he from? How long has he been here? Does he have a wife does he have any children? Where does he live in Massachusetts, things like that," Craney said.
With the help of several others, they were able to help the victims.
"They didn’t speak any English, so they had virtually no idea what anyone was saying to them," Craney said. "My biggest contribution probably just be able to talk to them in a language they understood."
