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Man Recalls Pulling Children From Burning Wreckage

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Oct 30, 2008 7:21 am US/Mountain

Man Recalls Pulling Children From Burning Wreckage

Reporting
Jodi Brooks

LUCERN, Colo. (CBS4) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Jorge Orozco-Sanchez
CBS

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A truck driver who risked his life to save two young children said on Wednesday he's haunted by the life he couldn't save.

Jorge Orozco-Sanchez, 30, was driving his truck on Highway 392 in Weld County Tuesday when an SUV drifted into his lane, causing a head-on crash.

He jumped out and ran over to the SUV. He said the driver was not moving but the two children in the car seats were. That's when he noticed that both vehicles were on fire and that the fire was spreading.

Orozco-Sanchez recounted his actions then.

"I grabbed one of the little girls and put her outside in a safe spot, came back and tried to grab the other one but the fire was expanding real quick and I tried once and I couldn't so I (tried) again and I saved the second girl, but when I went back for the mom..."

Unable to continue, his wife Suzie Orozco continued his story for him.

"He tried to go back for the mom, but it was too late."

The Colorado State Patrol is calling Orozco-Sanchez a hero for rescuing the girls. He said he knew how to get them out of their car seats quickly because he has children of his own.

The girls, Peyton, 4, and Morgen, 1, were recovering in the hospital. Peyton suffered serious injuries and Morgen had more critical injuries. Melissa Nicklas, 27, of Eaton, died.

Orozco-Sanchez was treated and released from a Greeley hospital for burns. He said he keeps replaying the crash in his head.

"She just kept coming, the last time I saw her -- just looking in front and holding the steering wheel -- the impact, that was it."

When Orozco-Sanchez placed the girls on the side of the road after the crash, he says one of the girls said something he'll never forget.

"But when I ... laid them down on the ground one of them started crying, the other one (said) 'Where's my mom?'"

Orozco-Sanchez said that he wants to share his condolences with Nicklas' husband and family.

"I did my best and I couldn't do any better," he said.

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