A hero trucker managed to save a coach full of passengers after discovering the brakes had failed on a bendy road.
Elías René Valladares Mejía pulled alongside the single-decker after noticing a problem with one of its tires.
He said: “I just told the driver that one of his tires was smoking, and he signaled to me that his brakes had failed.
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“The first thing that came to mind was to get in front and try to help stop the coach.”
Valladares decided to bring it to a stop using the back of his flatbed trailer.
He recalled: “I put my trust in God because it’s not easy to pull off a maneuver like that.
“It was thanks to God that we were able to stop the coach and save so many people.”
Dashcam footage of the terrifying incident shows a lorry overtaking a coach on a single carriageway.
The trucker can be seen braking carefully in front of the coach on the bendy road, bringing it to a gentle stop.
Dozens of relieved passengers, including children, then exited the coach via the windows onto the roadside.
The potential tragedy was averted on Friday (18 October) in El Portillo near Ocotepeque, western Honduras.
Elías’s heroics earned him the praise of Honduran National Congress president Luis Redondo, as reported by Need To Know.
Redondo said “I want to acknowledge your heroic act, which fills us with hope and gratitude.
“When you saw the danger posed by a coach without brakes, you didn’t hesitate to step in with your lorry, risking your own life to save others.
“Thanks to your brave intervention, what could have been a tragedy became a story of courage and selflessness.”
Valladares reflected: “Let’s always look out for others, because at any moment someone might be in trouble, and we can help them.
“It’s a beautiful thing when someone offers a helping hand.”
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