NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man who helped rescue a mother and daughter from an overturned vehicle now needs help with his recovery.
On August 21, Elijah Blacksmith was one of a few strangers who sprung into action to pull out a woman and her young daughter from their SUV after it overturned several times. The vehicle flipped as a result of a hit-and-run on Robinson Road near Old Hickory Boulevard, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Blacksmith kicked in the back window where he heard the girl crying in the back seat.
"My foot fell inside the window trying to catch my grip and I caught the side of the window," Blacksmith told NewsChannel 5. "It was very painful, and we kept wrapping up but blood was sinking through each wrap."
Despite a deep gash to his hand, Blacksmith continued with the effort to rescue the passengers. The moment was captured on video by a witness across the Street. In the video, you can see the woman being pulled out of the passenger side window.
However, Blacksmith's injury was worse than he initially thought. He had to undergo surgery last week to repair the nerves and tendons around his right thumb. Blacksmith has to take physical therapy to regain movement. The injury is causing a setback for a man who works two jobs to support his five children.
"I just don't want my injury to affect my household but already is," Blacksmith said. "It really makes me sad, it makes me feel incompetent."
Blacksmith has not been able to return to one of his jobs, a youth corrections position, which typically requires the capability of both of his hands. He stressed that bills will begin to pile up while he's not fully recovered.
To help mitigate the expenses, he created a GoFundMe page. It said, "Without question, I would do it all over again, but being unable to work as much and the medical bills from my recent surgery has placed a huge burden on me and my five children and I will soon be unable to support my family."
Despite his injury, he said he wouldn't hesitate to help again.
"I just help. If I see someone who needs help I don't think about it twice," he said.
The hit-and-run remains an active investigation. To donate, click on this link.
