NAPLES, Fla. (WSVN) –A road ranger is counting his blessings after a distracted driver hit his truck that was on the side of the road while he was assisting a disabled vehicle.
“It was a miracle. I was so lucky I got up just in time. A minute,30 seconds before and I wouldn’t be here,” said road ranger Jorge Bitterman.
Cellphone video showed the aftermath of the crash on Interstate 75 near Naples that landed two people in the hospital, Monday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a distracted driver from Miami hit a road ranger truck when he failed to notice the right lane was closed.
“I thought it was like a slow motion, but it was seconds. It was extremely fast,” said Bitterman.
Bitterman was the road ranger on sight.
In the video, he is seen surrounded by debris just moments after the crash.
He had just stopped to help a disabled vehicle and set up traffic cones and flashing lights.
“It was just like a big explosion. My reaction was to just get out of the way, what I advise people to, just stay off the phone and pay attention. If you see us, just move over, move one lane over,” he said.
The driver who hit the road ranger told troopers he was distracted by the radio.
Bitterman said that working along the roads, day in and day out, he’s seen this become a bigger problem.
“I mean, we see this all the time. I never thought it was going to happen to me. Last week, my co-worker got hit also, and one person died,” he said. “This happens at least once a week, and people are just driving way too fast, and people are not paying attention.”
FHP said the crash remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, Bitterman said he’s grateful to have survived.
“Nothing broken. My CAT scan came out good. I’m sore that’s it. I’ll be out a few days, then I’ll be back on track again, changing tires and helping people,” he said.
Bitterman is recovering. He said he’s ready to get back to work.
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