3 Killed, Pulled From Car Crushed Under Semi Truck

DETROIT (WWJ) - Two woman and one man were killed Friday morning when a 50,000-pound semi truck rolled on top of their car on Detroit's west side.

It was described as "an unbelievable scene" by an eyewitness who watched those inside the Ford Focus being extracted by Jaws of Life  after the sedan was crushed, on Plymouth Road above the Southfield freeway.

Darren Foster said he watched as a rescue crew used to Jaws of Life "like a can opener" to pull both the top and the side of the vehicle apart. He said the car was flattened like a pancake.

All three victims were rushed to Sinai Grace Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

According to family members talking to WWJ's Kathryn Larson at the scene, those killed were 43-year-old Tracey Thomas; her mother, Dorothy Thomas; and her brother, William Thomas.

Michigan Auto Recovery Services Owner Gregory Errigo said that pulling the remains of the car out from under the semi was a team effort.

"We got a loader from the DPW yard that assisted us to lift up the trailer — the rolled over trailer — while one of my trucks went and we chained the back of the car," Errigo said, "and as the trailer was getting pulled up, we pulled the car out."

The truck was finally up-righted about four hours after the crash.

State and Detroit police are investigating to determine what led to the accident. All authorities were saying Friday was that the truck was traveling north as the car was going through the Plymouth road intersection.