Good Samaritans lift truck off woman; husband calls it 'divine intervention'

Susan Gentry involved in freak accident while walking with family

COLLEGE PARK, Fla. – She’s sore but alive, and now, Susan Gentry is home and healing with her family.

"We had the angels in the right place at the right time that made sure I'm able to sit here today," Gentry said Monday.

Gentry, her husband and two children were walking to Tijuana Flats in College Park on Thursday evening when she was hit by a truck near the intersection of Smith Street and Edgewater Drive.

The truck’s tire landed on her chest, pinning her down.

"All I really remember is seeing the front of the truck (and) saying what I said,” Gentry said. “Somehow I got [my daughter] away from me and then I don't remember anything after that.”

But her husband, Mark Gentry, remembers.

He said kind people took their two children aside and shielded them from what was happening. Strangers jumped in to help lift the truck off Susan Gentry.

"It seems like there were only six or seven of us, but it seemed like there were 30 or 40 people and the whole thing just came off the ground," Mark Gentry said. "Divine intervention. It's something.”

It will take weeks until Susan Gentry can even attempt to walk again, and then she’ll have to attend physical therapy. 

But she doesn't hold any anger or animosity after what happened.

"Surely, the poor person who hit me, I mean, I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose,” Gentry said. “And I'm sure he feels terrible, and so, hopefully he's OK.”

And for those who quite possibly saved her life, Gentry said, "Thank you for everything you did. Because I definitely wouldn't be here today without all their help. And my kids might not be here today either without all their help.”

News 6 has requested the accident report from the Orlando Police Department to find out if the driver of the truck will face any charges, and learn exactly what happened.

Police said the report is not finalized and officers don't have a firm timeline on when it will be complete.

In the meantime, Gentry said she’s enjoying being home with her family, and in the near future, she and her husband plan to meet and thank everyone who helped.


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