“Seconds mattered”: employees rushed to help after fiery Fort Argyle crash

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) -It started with a boom — then flames. And before sirens arrived, employees from a business across the road ran toward the wreck to pull people out of danger after a fiery crash involving a tractor-trailer and four other vehicles.

The fiery Fort Argyle Road crash happened Thursday and left two people dead and three others injured.

The two people who died were identified as 74-year-old Willie Robinson of Statesboro and 27-year-old Alexandera Thomas of Dalton, Georgia.

Surveillance video from 9 Line Apparel captured the moment of impact and the chaotic seconds that followed.

“We heard the boom … was able to see from my window out here the flames and I just shouted it’s really bad and just took off,” said John Bohannon, sales director at 9 Line Apparel.

Bohannon said he and other employees rushed across the road and found victims who had managed to get out of their vehicles but were still in danger.

“Saw some of the victims who were able to get out of the car but definitely not out of danger,” he said.

Bohannon said other drivers nearby and coworkers helped move two women to safety as vehicles continued to explode.

“Thankfully, Austin was there to apply tourniquets, probably saved those women’s lives right there on the spot,” Bohannon said. “We have some amazing people who work here who did not think twice about it. They just rushed in and were able to save some lives.”

After doing what they could during the chaotic initial moments, Bohannon says they focused on assisting the arriving crews. He expresses that his heart is with the families affected.

“To the families of the victims and the lives we lost, we love you. Whatever we can do, that’s what we exist for,” Bohannon said. “In those situations, seconds matter and I just couldn’t be more proud of my team and what this logo represented yesterday.”

Bohannon said the greatest need now is with the families who are grieving, and he hopes the community will come together to support them and heal.