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According to the Shawano County sheriff's department, Roger Steinbring Jr., 32, was east on Highway 29 in Waukechon when he suddenly veered left at about 8:40 p.m Friday.
He crossed the median and two oncoming lanes before driving into a ditch and hitting an embankment head-on. The truck rolled to its side and burst into flames.
Steve Hanson of Black Creek was one of the first at the scene.
``When I saw the fire, I knew I didn't have time to (call 911), so I jumped out of the truck and ran over there,'' Hanson said.
``I didn't see him right away, so I tried to get into the driver's door because that was the only door available as (the truck) was tipped onto its side.''
But Hanson couldn't reach Steinbring through the door.
``I punched a hole through the windshield. It was already cracked, so I figured that would be easiest,'' Hanson said. ``I got (the hole punched) and about that time another fellow helped me pull the windshield back.''
Hanson said he and the unidentified man saw Steinbring lying on against the door on the passenger side.
``We pulled the window back and we grabbed him and got him most of the way out,'' Hanson said. ``Then his legs got caught on something, maybe the dashboard. I got his legs untangled and got him out and into the ditch away from the truck.''
He said he was glad the other man showed up because it took two of them to get Steinbring out.
Hanson said his gloves kept him from getting injured when they removed the windshield but the other man received numerous cuts.
Hanson said he wrapped his handkerchief around Steinbring's head because he was bleeding.
``There were some other people there, so while they took care of him, I ran back and checked to see if there was anybody else in there,'' Hanson said. ``We tried kicking out the back window to see if there was anybody else in there and I almost had it when another guy came and whistled a rock through it.''
That was Jonathan Koeller of Shawano.
``I took a rock and smashed the window out and felt all around in there to see if there was anybody else in there,'' Koeller said.
There were only some laundry baskets.
An off-duty emergency medical technician who was driving by also stopped to help. Her name was not known.
Steinbring was listed in critical condition Saturday at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.
Sheriff's Sgt. Ty Raddant said the citizens helped prevent a terrible tragedy.
