After his tire came off, Elvis James Jr. felt his car sliding along I-75 in Cobb County.
The 36-year-old told Channel 2 Action News he was thankful for the help he received early Monday morning from one of Alpharetta’s volunteer firefighters.
About 4:35 a.m., Mark E. Strow pulled behind James’ disabled Chevrolet Impala just south of Delk Road. He activated strobe lights and put on a reflective vest before getting out of his Ford Explorer.
James told Channel 2 Strow was a godsend.
"Then he said, ‘Brother, don't worry about it; everything's under control,’” James said.
Then, Strow promised to get James to safety and told him to calm down.
Those were the 52-year-old father’s last words, James told the news station.
Moments later, a car rear-ended Strow’s Ford, which struck Strow.
Paramedics had to tell James what had happened because he couldn’t see in the dark with cars whizzing by.
“I redialed 911 and started crying and said, there has been an accident,” James said.
James told Strow’s daughter that her father died saving his life.
“He really kept me calm in a time of need,” James told Strow’s family. “I'm really thankful for him and I'm sorry you guys lost your father, your brother, your uncle and your son.”
No charges have been filed against the driver who hit Strow. Courtney McClellan, 22, of Kennesaw, was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with minor injuries after the crash.
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