“I don’t know if most kids would do that.”
Sixteen-year-old Hunter Hasenjaeger and 17-year-old Collin Barry never expected to become heroes during their late-night drive home on Friday.
The two Illinois teens were driving toward Interstate 80 just after midnight when they came upon the aftermath of a wreck involving a truck and two cars.
Instinctively, the teens pulled over and approached the scene where they found 27-year-old Alexis Danley hanging from her stopped vehicle. She was six months pregnant.
In the back seat, the boys could hear a baby “crying extremely loud and screaming.” The police hadn’t arrived yet, so the teens sprung into action.
As Hunter shined his light into the car window, Collin climbed into the totaled vehicle. He maneuvered his body, the baby’s carseat and various belongings that had been shuffled in the crash to successfully pull the baby out before paramedics arrived.
After rescuing the 1-year-old baby girl, the teens returned to the mother, Alexis. She was unresponsive and breathing heavily, but they stayed by her side and continued to tell her that her baby was safe and help was on the way.
Alexis was pronounced dead at the scene, while the baby—who hadn’t been harmed at all—was taken to the hospital before being released to family members.
Officials believe the crash was caused by 23-year-old Jacob Kaminski, who reportedly tried to pass another car in a no-passing lane. His truck collided with Alexis, before striking another vehicle.
He was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
Since Friday, Hunter has visited the family, bringing food and a stuffed animal for the baby girl he helped rescue.
“I didn’t even know her name but I felt a connection,” he told local news. “I think I did what any person should have done. That’s just how I was raised.”
Both teens say that the horrific accident has opened their eyes to the reality of safe driving and driving under the influence.
