Good Samaritans speak after helping victims in fatal crash

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla., (WFLA) — The good Samaritans who rushed to help victims of a fatal fiery crash are speaking out about what they experienced.

The crash happened just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bay Pines Boulevard and 100th Way North in Seminole.

Joshua Kohlbecker, the man the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said is responsible for the crash, had his bond set at $250,000 for his DUI manslaughter charge and $250,000 for his vehicular homicide charge. His bond was set at $50,000 for the DWSLR with a death charge.

Those who jumped in to help when they saw the crash said they tried to get everyone out before the fire got too big.

“The fire was spreading so quickly in that car, and I think the driver made it out just in seconds of time, because right as he got out, the driver’s seat was covered in flames,” said Melanie Sommerschuh, who witnessed the crash.

Numerous cars were involved in the deadly crash.

The Sheriff’s Office said Kohlbecker was driving a Ford F150 at a high rate of speed when he failed to stop and struck a Mustang.

The Sheriff’s Office also said he was impaired while behind the wheel.

“He has a 2022 DUI conviction, and of course, he was out on pre-trial release on a second DUI within 5 years, this will be his third just within 3 years,” said an attorney with the State Attorney’s Office.

The crash killed one person and left another injured. Nine cars in total were involved.

Witnesses told News Channel 8 that many other people on the road stopped to help.

“I got out of the car, ran over, and started trying to help. All of a sudden, the kid that was driving came to when I was trying to find something to smash the window and kicked it out, started crawling his way out. Me and some other guy were there and dragged him out of the car,” said Joseph Andolina.

The good Samaritans said the fire kept getting bigger and bigger as they worked to get people out.

“They ended up not being able to save the woman in there, it was too late, but they did end up getting the driver out,” Sommerschuh said. “It’s pretty devastating to know that someone that was completely innocent and uninvolved was the one to have to face death.”

Those who took quick action to help said several people were running to get fire extinguishers and water and doing all they could.

“It’s good to see the human race when worse comes to worse, everybody kind of bucks up, comes together, and does something about it,” Andolina said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, there were several people inside the seven additional cars involved, but none of them had serious injuries.

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