Man who tried to save driver from burning tanker on highway released from hospital

MONTREAL – The would-be hero who tried to save a man trapped in a burning tanker truck has been released from hospital but is still suffering from psychological trauma, his boss said Wednesday.

Carol Bujold is feeling a little guilty for not being able to save Gilbert Prince, said Jean Carriere, head of a construction equipment company.

Bujold is one of Carriere’s truck drivers and was involved in a collision Tuesday afternoon on Montreal’s Highway 40 that killed Prince, injured six other people and sparked massive flames that could be seen for kilometres.

“He had a terrible night, he is still in shock and today he is resting as much as he can,” Carriere said, adding Bujold was released from hospital Tuesday night with stitches on his left hand. “He still has all these images in his head — it’s hard to digest.”

Bujold was in front of the tanker truck when the collision occurred, Carriere said.

He got out of the vehicle after what Carriere described as a “mega-impact” and walked over to the tanker and saw the driver trapped in his seat.

“The driver was alive and conscious — and they exchanged signals with one another,” Carriere said. “There was so much damage to the truck that he was stuck in his seat, at his abdomen.”

Carriere said Bujold had the instinct to run back to his truck and get a crowbar.

Bujold is seen on helicopter footage, broadcast by a TV network, running around both ends of the tanker and trying to pry the door open before noticing the flames had spread to his cement truck.

“It was horrible,” Carriere said. “He’s trying to save this guy and he said he was the only person trying to do so. Before the truck caught on fire there were plenty of people around and no one tried to save him.”

Bujold, who has a seven-year-old son, is resting at home and will take “all the time he needs,” Carriere said.

“He’s a fabulous person and he’s part of our family.”