Police look for men who saved woman's life

Katie Kerwin Mccrimmon, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 2, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Local News

AURORA - Aurora police are looking for two mystery men who pulled up to an accident scene on a cold, rainy night in mid-May just as eight other men were trying to lift a mangled car off the female driver, who was barely breathing.

The good Samaritans happened to have a hydraulic lift on the back of their pickup. Within seconds, they pulled the car off the woman just as emergency workers arrived on the scene at East Iliff Avenue and South Sedalia Street.

Minutes later, before anyone could get the heroes' names, they vanished into the dark night.

Thanks to the mystery men, Arleen Meyer, 53, of Aurora, is recovering from severe injuries at the Medical Center of Aurora. On May 14, as rain and tornadoes pounded the Denver area, she was driving to work at Kohl's when she lost control of her car. She apparently was ejected as the car rolled then landed on top of her, pinning her to the pavement.

Former Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers happened upon the scene moments after the crash as he headed to his home blocks away. Rogers at first thought the woman was dead. All he could see were her legs and stomach sticking out beneath the car's wheel well.

Then he spied the woman breathing, and he and the other passers-by had one thought: "Get that car off of her." They were failing to make progress and flagging down any volunteers they could when a dark blue or black full-size pickup pulled up. The driver said he was a "repo man" and had the perfect equipment to free the woman.

"The two men that lifted that car off of Arleen were remarkable," Rogers said. "It's because of them that Arleen is alive."

Rogers said the chain of events that led to Meyer's survival was remarkable.

Minutes after Meyer was transported to the hospital, Meyer's husband, Duane Meyer, happened upon the accident scene on his way home from his job as sales manager at Emich Volkswagen. He instantly recognized his family's 1995 Mercury Cougar. He at first feared that his 17-year-old daughter, Hannah, had been driving the car.

He had just spoken to his wife before 10 p.m. and assumed she was already safely at her overnight job. Duane Meyer later learned that all three of his daughters were OK but that his wife was in critical condition.

Meyer is now stable but faces months of recovery for numerous injuries. She has cuts all over her head but suffered no damage to her brain or internal organs. She is on a ventilator and cannot tell her husband and children what happened. Her family want to meet and thank the men who saved her life.

"It's a miracle she's alive," -Duane Meyer said. "There are good Samaritans who will stop and help. These men don't know what kind of angels they are."

Duane Meyer is convinced that his wife will heal.

"She's tough and she's strong. She can't leave me here with three girls and three weddings," he said.

The Aurora Police Department wants to give the men an official commendation. Anyone with information on the identity of the heroes should call the Aurora Police Department at: 303-739-6000.

mcCrimmonk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2502

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News