Woman left hanging from bridge 75ft over river after terrifying crash, footage shows

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By Asiya Ali

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Shocking dashcam footage has captured the moment a semi-truck driver was left hanging over a river following a dramatic crash.

As reported by BBC News, Sydney Thomas, 26, was driving over the Clark Memorial Bridge in March when a pickup truck crashed into her and left her dangling above the Ohio River.

The video was played in court on Wednesday (May 15), during a hearing for Trevor Branham, who was driving the pickup truck.

Watch the shocking video below:

The footage reveals the pickup truck swerving out of its lane to avoid colliding with a car that had stalled, before slamming into Thomas' vehicle. 

Thomas then quickly steers her 18-wheeler away from the other cars on the bridge before eventually plunging through the railing.

According to Daily Mail, the driver spent around half an hour in the truck as it was suspended over the crossing. Thankfully, a crew of firefighters arrived on the scene and rescued Thomas following the death-defying accident.

Louisville firefighter Bryce Carden took the driver out of her seatbelt and then secured her into a harness before being raised back up. 

"She was praying a lot and I prayed with her. We've done some crazy things, but this tops it all," he recalled, as cited by the outlet. "Once I reached her she was super calm and collected, and allowed us to do what we do."

GettyImages-1449200272.jpgThomas was driving over the Clark Memorial Bridge when she was left hanging above the Ohio River. Credit: Joe Sohm/Visions of America / Getty

Branham appeared in court after being charged with endangerment and driving on a suspended license, per ABC News.

The dashcam footage was shared by Assistant County Attorney Liem Sokhon as evidence to lay out the case against the pickup driver. 

According to WHAS11, Sokhon told the courtroom: "This is the result, manifesting extreme indifference to human life, that could result in serious physical injury or death."

The mom-of-one opened up about the harrowing incident in an interview with WHAS11, emotionally saying: “Sometimes you pray, and I’m guilty of this, I pray, and I don’t think God is listening. But he was that day.”

Thomas, who had been driving for Sysco for two years, was thinking about her son while dangling off the bridge, recalling: "It was really hard for me to think about leaving him behind on Earth."

The driver won't be immediately driving another semi-truck when she returns to work next month. She also doesn't plan on driving across the Clark Memorial Bridge again.

“I have my moments, but God has me here for a reason,” she said of experiencing anxiety following the crash. “I have to fulfill my purpose in life, and I can’t let something like that stop me from doing what I’m supposed to be doing for Him. He brought me out it, He doesn’t want me to live in fear the rest of my life, and I know that.”

Featured image credit: Joe Sohm/Visions of America / Getty