Man stops runaway truck on motorway
Athar was on his way with his family when he spotted a truck whose brakes had failed
Athar was on his way with his family when he spotted a truck whose brakes had failed. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
“My husband [is] my hero. This is one of the reasons I loved, I love and I will keep loving you Athar Yad Ali,” these were the words that Shaista Ali Khan posted on Facebook after her husband stopped an unmanned 22-wheeler truck on the motorway.
A short video featuring Athar heroically stopping a runaway cement truck has gone viral on the internet.
Athar was on his way with his family when he spotted a truck whose brakes had failed. Moments later, the driver jumped off the truck leaving the cement-laden vehicle running freely on the salt range.
“Baba, its coming... its brakes are failed... please drive faster,” their son Arsh Yad Ali is heard shouting while filming all the drama.
The truck then lost its speed as one of its front wheels rammed into the road divider.
“I knew that it was never going to stop,” said Athar, adding that “it was heading down the slope. It gained speed and I thought it was time for me to stop it.”
The brave man left his car and got onto the truck amid nervous shouting of his family.
“I first applied the brakes and the handbrake but it didn’t work. So I was left with no option but to hit the truck against the road divider to reduce its speed,” Athar stated.
The plan worked. The vehicle stopped due to Athar’s breathtaking act of bravery coupled with his sharp presence of mind.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2014.
“My husband [is] my hero. This is one of the reasons I loved, I love and I will keep loving you Athar Yad Ali,” these were the words that Shaista Ali Khan posted on Facebook after her husband stopped an unmanned 22-wheeler truck on the motorway.
A short video featuring Athar heroically stopping a runaway cement truck has gone viral on the internet.
Athar was on his way with his family when he spotted a truck whose brakes had failed. Moments later, the driver jumped off the truck leaving the cement-laden vehicle running freely on the salt range.
“Baba, its coming... its brakes are failed... please drive faster,” their son Arsh Yad Ali is heard shouting while filming all the drama.
The truck then lost its speed as one of its front wheels rammed into the road divider.
“I knew that it was never going to stop,” said Athar, adding that “it was heading down the slope. It gained speed and I thought it was time for me to stop it.”
The brave man left his car and got onto the truck amid nervous shouting of his family.
“I first applied the brakes and the handbrake but it didn’t work. So I was left with no option but to hit the truck against the road divider to reduce its speed,” Athar stated.
The plan worked. The vehicle stopped due to Athar’s breathtaking act of bravery coupled with his sharp presence of mind.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2014.