Woman recalls being rescued from burning car

A North Texas woman is sharing her story of survival after being pulled from a burning car.

It’s been nearly a month since Ladina Hill's car burst into flames.

Hill, a mother of nine, was making her work commute from Dallas to Kaufman just before 8 a.m. on Aug. 6.

In an instant, a jackknifed rock hauler crossed the middle line and barreled right at her. 

Hill swerved but couldn’t avoid it, and her car punctured the truck’s fuel tank.

Diesel spilled out and ignited. Hill’s car began to burn with her trapped inside.

Hill says she remembers everything from that day; especially the two men that ripped her from her burning car.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, please get me out! I have kids!’” said Hill. “I was like, ‘I don't want to die.’ I was like, ‘Please help me.’”

Doug Finch, a barber from Crandall and former Army medic, was at a nearby veterinary office, along with Jeff House of Terrell. Both men sprinted to her rescue.

“I just really kind of panicked, because I didn’t think we were going to be able to save her,” said Finch. “And you know, just the fear and terror in her eyes.”

For a split second, it occurred to him the danger he was in, but Hill’s life was more important.

“I was just like, ‘You know what? This thing is going to blow up on us,’” he said. “But you know, you just can't walk away. I was like, ‘You know what? If this is it, this is it. There's no way.’”

The two men were able to pry a door frame open just enough to pull Hill out.

Hill says she will be forever grateful to the men she now calls angels. Because of them, she'll be there for her own kids and first grandchild.