WILDWOOD, Fla. — A routine drive home turned into a fiery disaster when a vehicle failed to yield at a stop sign a few weeks ago in Wildwood on state Road 44 near the county Road 475 intersection, triggering a devastating crash that claimed one life and left another critically injured.

Bryleigh Law, 16, and her father, Joel Law, were driving home after celebrating Bryleigh’s birthday when an SUV failed to stop, causing a Nissan Altima to collide with their pickup truck. The impact left the vehicle wrecked and leaking fuel, sparking a fire with the father and daughter still trapped inside.

Travis El Chivo, a bystander who was traveling from Wildwood to Inverness saw the crash. “As soon as I saw it I pulled over immediately and knew it was bad. I made a B-line right for the truck,” says El Chivo.

“When I got on the scene, I tried my best to direct everything before the cops got there,” El Chivo said. “All I know is, if I didn’t step in, two people would have burned alive, and I wouldn’t have been able to live with that guilt.”

With flames spreading and thick smoke filling the air, El Chivo and other good samaritans rushed to pull the victims from the burning truck.

“I saw what was happening, and I knew there were people inside being burned alive,” he said. “I directed the rescue party to lift the guy (Joel) by hand away from the truck. As the fire intesified time became everything.”

After removing Joel from the wreckage, their focus turned to Bryleigh, who was severely injured but still alive. El Chivo put his own life on the line to go back to the truck despite the possibility of an explosion from oil and fuel igniting from the engine bay.

(El Chivo along with his children. A father himself, El Chivo was determined to save Bryleigh’s life.)

“The truck was soon engulfed in flames with Bryleigh inside,” El Chivo recalled. “We got her out moments after moving her father. What started as a small fire intesified within seconds. We actually thought the truck might explode. It took about seven minutes for law enforcement to arrive, but without those bystanders, these people wouldn’t have made it. There was a woman by the name of Ann and two other men who’s names are unknown and maybe eight more people who provided aid and fire extinguishers who helped pull Joel away from the truck,” said El Chivo.

Despite the heroic rescue efforts, Joel Harrison Law tragically succumbed to his injuries. Bryleigh was hospitalized for several days but incredibly has since returned home to recover. She has a long road ahead, but she is alive.

(Bryleigh Law sits in her bed alive due to the heroic actions that saved her life that night. Photo Credit – Elizabeth Sellers.)

“My condolences to the family,” El Chivo said. “I am thankful at least someone lived. I wish it could have been all.”

Authorities continue to investigate the crash. The selfless actions of those at the scene, especially El Chivo, are being hailed as acts of true heroism. It just goes to show that an everyday moment can turn quickly. Thank you to everyone who was able to save this young woman. These were everyday people thrown into what looked like a war scene and they stepped up to save a life. God Bless the family and thank you to everyone who put their own lives on the line to save another.

(In memory of Oxford Florida’s Joel Harrison Law a dedicated father and outdoorsman who tragically passed away.)