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Drivers Form Human Chain on Pa. Turnpike to Pull Trapped Driver From Crash

A group of strangers teamed up to help a driver in need after his tractor-trailer veered off the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Friday night during near-blizzard conditions, according to NBC affiliate WPXI in Pittsburgh.

It came as a massive winter storm swept the region, blanketing parts of Pennsylvania in nearly 3 feet of snow. The snow began falling Friday evening and continued for more than 24 hours.

Arlyn Satanek, who helped with Friday night's rescue, told WPXI he heard a radio broadcast about imminent weather and decided he needed to start "backing it down a little bit." Just as Satanek laid on his own brakes, he saw a tractor-trailer "wipe out" in front of him.

"I’m sitting there in a daze, and I realize people are running to the truck," Satanek told WPXI.

Satanek joined the others in assisting the truck driver. He said before he knew it, a group of strangers formed a human chain to help rescue the driver from his cab. The driver was pulled to safety within 15 minutes, according to WPXI.

"It helped remind us that we are all people, and it is our responsibility to help other humans," Satanek told WPXI.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike was scheduled to close westbound between Breezewood and New Stanton Thursday at 9 a.m. to clear the tractor-trailer that remained dangling over the embankment. The closure was expected to last about three hours while crews worked to remove the truck.

Traffic will be detoured off at Breezewood and back on at New Stanton during the closure.

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