A cement mixing truck crashed into the woman’s pick-up truck on the US 60 near Val Vista Drive on Tuesday morning.
MESA, Arizona — A Valley woman was stuck in traffic on the U.S. 60 Tuesday morning when a cement truck rear-ended her and ignited her pick-up truck on fire.
Aymee Ruiz told 12News she had just dropped her kids off at school. For a moment, she thought she would never see them again.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: ‘Creo que me voy a morir aquí’ Mujer del valle atrapada en un vehículo incendiado en la US 60 recuerda el rescate
“I started thinking about my kids and husband. How are they going to live without me? How are they going to live without me if I burn in this truck right now,” Ruiz said.
In the moments leading up to the crash, Ruiz said she glanced at her rear view mirror and saw the truck coming on a little too fast behind her.
“That’s when I clenched onto the steering wheel so hard and just closed my eyes and just was ready to take the impact,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz’s truck flipped onto its side. She was stuck inside, but physically okay. She reached for her cell phone to call her husband, and that’s when she realized the truck was on fire.
“I don’t think I’m going to make it through this. I think I’m going to die in here. I’m going to burn to death in here. I’m scared, scared, scared, scared,” Ruiz recalled.
Witnesses parked and got out to help Ruiz. Some punched the window with their bare hands in an attempt to break the glass.
Chandler Police Officer Brian Larison was on his way to work. He witnessed the crash and rushed over to Ruiz’s car with his baton in hand.
“I seen the officer come and break the window, and that right there was just such relief,” Ruiz said. “I knew at that moment I was getting closer to being saved.”
It took several swings, but Larison was able to break the window.
Ruiz had one leg outside of the truck when it flipped back onto four wheels and threw her back inside.
“That’s when my hair caught on fire,” Ruiz said. “My eyelashes are completely gone.”
The flames inched closer to Ruiz and smoke filled the cab of the truck.
“I closed my eyes so tight because there was so much fire and smoke, and that’s when I tried to reach my way back through the open window and I felt the firefighter’s arms and I held on, and that’s when he pulled me right out,” Ruiz said.
That would be Peoria Firefighter Asa Paguia. He also happened to be on his way to work.
“I just remember holding onto the officer so tight. So, so tight, and when he was telling me that he has me and he’s got me, it was just so comforting like I knew right then and there I was saved. I was just watching my truck burn there like that could have been me,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz is now home safe with her husband and three kids. She walked away from the crash with burnt hair and a few scrapes.
“I couldn’t believe that I survived that,” Ruiz said. “Probably one of the best feelings for sure, being rescued like that.”
The entire crash and rescue was captured on dash cameras of nearby cars and the officer’s helmet camera.
Ruiz said she’s watched those videos hundreds of time. It’s her reminder that life is precious.
“I can’t thank them enough for my life. I’m sure they’re going to hear that for the rest of their life. They’re angels and they’re heroes,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz lost her truck and everything inside. She said those are things that can be replaced. She’s just happy to be alive.