WILD footage shows a truck dangling off the side of a bridge after a driver crashed through a railing and nearly plunged into the water.
Sydney Thomas, 26, was left holding on for dear life inside the cab of her truck for 45 minutes before rescuers were able to reach her.
Dash cam footage shows semi-truck driver Sydney Thomas’ terrified reaction as her truck careened off a bridge in LouisvilleCredit: WHAS
After being hit by a pickup truck, Thomas’ semi crashed through the bridge’s railingCredit: WHAS
She was trapped in her truck dangling off the bridge for 45 minutes before she was rescuedCredit: WHAS
In the moments before the March 1 crash, a pickup truck swerved out of the way to avoid a broken-down electric vehicle.
Dashcam footage from Thomas’ big rig showed the truck veer into her lane. It collided head-on with Thomas’ semi-truck.
Thomas attempted to regain control of the tractor-trailer after impact but ended up swerving off the road.
The massive truck then barreled through the railing of the Clark Memorial Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky.
The video shows Thomas screaming the moment her truck flies into the guard rail and off the road.
After plunging off the side of the bridge, Thomas is left inside the cab of her truck dangling only 100 feet above the Ohio River.
The dashcam footage captured Thomas’ terrified reaction after almost losing her life in the crash.
After 45 minutes of waiting suspended in the air, Louisville firefighters got there and rescued Thomas.
DRAMATIC RESCUE
Firefighters had one crew member repel off the side of the bridge and safely pulled Thomas out of the semi-truck.
“She held it together like a champ,” Louisville Fire Department chief Brian O’Neill said at a news conference.
“But I will say, the second she hit solid ground, she was able to let those emotions go and just have that relief.
“It’s a pretty impressive thing.”
Craig Greenberg, Louisville’s mayor, thanked the first responders who rescued the driver, BBC News reported.
“Your bravery is unmatched and we’re grateful for your lifesaving work,” Greenberg said.
Sysco, the company that Thomas was driving for, also released a statement thanking first responders for Thomas’ well-being.
“We are thankful our Sysco colleague is safe and thank the first responders for their courageous efforts rescuing our driver,” they wrote.
“Safety is a priority at Sysco, and we are cooperating with the law enforcement investigation.”
Trevor Branham, the 33-year-old driver of the pickup that hit Thomas’ truck, was allegedly speeding and weaving in and out of traffic prior to crashing into the semi, Spectrum News 1 Kentucky reported.
Branham was arrested and was charged with wanton endangerment and one count of driving with a suspended license.
A preliminary hearing for the case was on May 15 and it has been sent to a grand jury.
The dash cam footage captured the moment that the pickup crossed into Thomas’ laneCredit: WHAS
This was Thomas’ view after she crashed off the bridgeCredit: WHAS
The Louisville Fire Department sent a rescuer rappelling down the side of the bridge to rescue the driverCredit: WHAS