'I just wanted to see him breathing': Passersby resuscitate man hit by semi-trailer
22-year-old taken to hospital in critical condition
Two passersbys helped resuscitate a man hit by a truck in Pitt Meadows early Thursday.
Matt Burnett and Jeremy Scholing, both 23, heard the impact of the crash as they were driving home to Abbotsford along the Lougheed Highway around 2:30 a.m. PT.
"We just heard a bang … and it looked like someone laying there," said Scholing.
They immediately pulled over and ran to the prone man, who wasn't breathing, they said.
'I helped wipe blood off his face'
Burnett said Scholing attempted CPR on the man after another passerby called 911.
They were both coached over the phone, as neither Burnett nor Scholing had performed CPR before.
"I just wanted to see him breathing," said Burnett, who works as a car salesperson.
"I helped wipe blood off his face and took the shirt off my back."
Burnett said the man began to cough and show signs of life after several minutes of doing CPR.
Paramedics arrived soon afterward and took the man to hospital.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIDEO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIDEO</a>: RCMP investigating after a man was hit by a semi truck on Lougheed at Harris Road. These two young men pulled over to perform CPR on the man, who appeared to be unconscious. <a href="https://twitter.com/rmRCMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rmRCMP</a> <a href="https://t.co/1zp4Wya9Yv">pic.twitter.com/1zp4Wya9Yv</a>
—@gpsmendozaRCMP investigating
In a release, Ridge Meadows RCMP said witnesses saw the man step into the eastbound lane of the highway near Harris Road to hail a taxi, when he was struck by a five-ton box truck.
The victim, a 22-year-old Port Coquitlam man, was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to the release.
"This is a tragic outcome and we are supporting the family during this difficult time," said Sgt. Brenda Gresiuk.
"[We] would also like to thank the witnesses that stopped and provided initial first aid, which included CPR."
Burnett said he and Scholing are both shaken from the incident but are hoping for the best.
"We just wanted to make sure he was alive," he said. "It's not like its something we've been trained to do … we did as best as we could."
The driver of the truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with police.