TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa family is praying for a miracle as the father of three children fights for his life in a hospital.
50-year-old David Tilley was in a crash with a semi-truck on the Cimarron Turnpike earlier this month. It happened on March 9th near exit 99. Tilley was driving back to Tulsa from Kansas, where he had been working as a pharmaceutical representative.
Tilley’s car burst into flames moments after the crash. However, a passing Good Samaritan pulled Tilley from the wreckage moments before the car exploded.
“I thought it was hot and I thought if we don’t get him out of here we’re both going to be burnt but I wasn’t going to give him up on trying to get him out,” said Bob Buchanan who went to pull Tilley from the driver’s seat.
The man had a pocketknife on him, which he used to cut Tilley’s seatbelt and pull him to safety.
“A little itty bitty knife makes a big difference,” recalls Buchanan “As soon as we got him to the side of the road got a blanket on him it burst the whole car into flames and then as it got hot parts were blowing up and flying at us so we got in between It and David to shield to make sure nothing hit him”
He’s been visiting Tilley in the hospital, and even gave the knife to Tilley’s 12-year-old son.
Tilley is in a coma and is fighting a brain injury. Shockingly, Tilley had no scratches or broken bones. His brother-in-law, Chad Garrison, says he’s fighting hard. Tilley’s family is hoping that he’ll wake up soon. Garrison is watching after Tilley’s children. He has two daughters, age 19 and 16, and his 12-year-old son.
“Dave is a single dad, just you know just working hard out there raising three kids. Obviously it’s very devastating to them. We’re just trying to go on, they started school back this week so just trying to some type of normalcy,” said Garrison.
He says there’s been a massive outpour of support from the community. They’ve set up a GoFundMe to help provide for Tilley’s children while he recovers.
“The outpouring of love and support from Tulsa and the community has been awesome. His class, Tulsa East Central class has just been awesome providing meals twice a day, along with help, support, and lots of prayers. The community has came together and I just appreciate getting the word out so people can keep praying, because we’re still hoping for a miracle that God will heal him.”