CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
Two men who are credited with saving a truck driver and his passenger following an oil tanker crash earlier in June are being honored for their actions.
The crash happened last week on FM 624 in Jim Wells County. The driver and passenger, who were inside the tanker when it rolled onto its side, are alive and recovering. The two were reunited with their heroes for the first time since the crash on Friday.
William Pugh was the driver. "The truck did a roll. Pure hell after that," he said. "Breaking glass, medal crunching."
Pugh was pinned inside. He didn't know if he would survive, and neither did his passenger Bobby Williams.
"I remember hearing his voice," Williams said. "Couldn't see anything. All I saw was white."
That calming voice belonged to Darryl Swierc, who saw the crash and stopped to help.
"I just got out of my truck looking at it, seen movement in the truck," Swierc said. "Pulled the guy out of the truck."
Williams asked him to call his wife.
"Told my wife I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, I love her. Tell the kids I love them," Williams said. "Fortunately I got to tell her myself. That's awesome."
Jerry Nino was drinking his morning coffee when the wreck happened in front of his ranch. His 20 years of training as a firefighter kicked in. The two stayed with William and Bobby until emergency crews arrived.
"Our concern was, because it was leaking fuel, we knew we were in danger," Nino said. "Didn't matter."
"Darryl Wade and I, and our families, would like to present this award to you for your true bravery," Williams said.
And for the first time since the crash, all four men were brought together once again. This time two of them would be honored for risking it all and putting their own lives on the line, an unforeseen event bringing four strangers together.
"We feel like we found our new best friends," Pugh said.
