He didn’t see the crash, but Topher Evans saw the aftermath and knew he had to help. He pulled over and ran to the side of an injured man lying on I-75 and covered in glass.
“I reached out to grab his hand, not knowing what I was grabbing,” Evans told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday. “I thought I was going to feel a man dying.”
Drew Jason Lofstad was injured when he lost control of his pickup truck and struck a concrete barrier along I-75 in Marietta shortly before 2 p.m. Monday, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Lofstad, 43, of Fayetteville, was ejected when his truck overturned just south of North Marietta Parkway, a GSP spokeswoman said.
Lofstad survived the crash, though he appeared to have a head injury and possibly broken bones, Evans said. Evans grabbed Lofstad’s hand and told him to stay still. Lofstad’s face was covered in glass, and Evans told him not to open his eyes, fearing shards would damage them.
While police and paramedics were en route to the scene, Evans said he continued talking to Lofstad, who wanted to know if his pit bull was OK. Your dog is fine, Evans told him.
“I kept holding his hand until paramedics got there,” Evans said. “I told Drew, ‘My name is Topher and you’re going to be OK’.”
Lofstad was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for treatment, the GSP said. He was charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and not wearing a seat belt, the GSP said Tuesday.
Evans said he was glad he stopped, even just to help a few minutes. It’s the kind of thing he hopes someone would do for him, he said.
“That stuff scares you because you never when it’s gonna be you,” Evans said.
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