Man who leaped from overpass to avoid fatal wreck loses both legs

August 2024 ยท 3 minute read

The family of a Houston man who leaped from a freeway overpass to avoid being struck by an Amazon Prime truck during a fatal chain-reaction crash say he's had to have both his legs amputated. 

Abdullah Baidas, 23, suffered multiple skull and spine fractures in the 15-foot jump on Friday from the Interstate 45 overpass north of downtown Houston, and his legs were so badly shattered on impact that they had to be surgically removed, Mahmoud Abuzaid, Baidas' uncle, told KTRK

Baidas is hospitalized under intensive care but is in stable condition, according to Abuzaid, who's been acting as a family spokesperson. 

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Abdullah Baidas, 23, suffered multiple skull and spine fractures, and had to have both his legs amputated after jumping from a Houston overpass to avoid being killed by a truck

Abdullah Baidas, 23, suffered multiple skull and spine fractures, and had to have both his legs amputated after jumping from a Houston overpass to avoid being killed by a truck 

Baidas was driving on Interstate 45 last Friday when he came upon a multi-vehicle wreck and pulled over to help the victims

Baidas was driving on Interstate 45 last Friday when he came upon a multi-vehicle wreck and pulled over to help the victims 

An 18-wheel Amazon Prime truck then struck all the disabled vehicles, killing a man and a woman, and causing serious injuries to Baidas

An 18-wheel Amazon Prime truck then struck all the disabled vehicles, killing a man and a woman, and causing serious injuries to Baidas

Two young children also were injured in the multi-vehicle crash, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

According to the sheriff's office, a red Lincoln Navigator hauling a trailer and carrying Anthony Alvarado, 22, a woman in her 20s and their children, ages 1 and 3, pulled over on the freeway at about 1.30am on Friday because of a flat tire. 

A grey Mazda crashed into the Lincoln from behind. The driver of the Mazda and the woman from the Lincoln got out and stood outside on the freeway, the sheriff's office said.

A Chevy Silverado pickup truck operated by Tyler Vail, 29, swerved to avoid the vehicles, lost control and a crashed into a concrete dividing wall. 

Baidas, 23, was driving southbound when he noticed the wrecked vehicles and pulled over his white SUV to help the victims. 

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Share The incident on I 45 began unfolding when a Lincoln Navigator got a flat tire, and a Mazda rear-ended it

The incident on I 45 began unfolding when a Lincoln Navigator got a flat tire, and a Mazda rear-ended it 

A Chevy Silverado pickup truck swerved to avoid the vehicles, lost control and a crashed into a concrete dividing wall

A Chevy Silverado pickup truck swerved to avoid the vehicles, lost control and a crashed into a concrete dividing wall

Then, an 18-wheel tractor-trailer owned and operated by Amazon and JB Hunt Transport crashed into the vehicles, killing the driver of the Mazda and the woman from the Lincoln.

The female victim's two children were restrained in their car seats in the rear and suffered minor injuries, the sheriff's office said.

After jumping from the overpass, Baidas was able to call 911 and summon help.  

Roads were slick at the time of the crashes because of light rain.

According to his Facebook profile, Baidas works as a mechanic and has a young daughter. 

On Wednesday, he shared an article about the crash on his social media page, writing in the caption: 'all I did was try to help.' 

Baidas is a mechanic who has a young daughter e is hospitalized under intensive care but is in stable condition

Baidas is a mechanic who has a young daughter. He is hospitalized under intensive care but is in stable condition

In the wake of the crash, Baidas has hired an attorney and filed a lawsuit against Amazon, JB Hunt Transport and the driver of the tractor-trailer, 56-year-old Cody Munson, alleging multiple counts of negligence, negligent hiring and retention. 

Amazon released a statement addressing the deadly crash involving one of its trucks. 

'This is a terrible incident and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with all involved,' the online retail giant stated. 'We will work with law enforcement and the carrier as they investigate.' 


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