A passing motorist who saw an overturned truck engulfed in flames threw rocks to smash its windshield and ultimately free the driver trapped inside . Larry Coulter told WIVB that he was hauling a load of stones on Monday on the Thruway near Buffalo , New York when one of his tires blew , sending his truck into a guardrail and overturning . The guardrail punctured the fuel tank , igniting a fire that quickly spread threw the truck . With the vehicle 's cab on its side , the only door available for Coulter to climb through had been overcome by flames and he quickly realized there was no escape . Scroll down for videos . Terrifying : A burning truck can be seen on the side of the Thruway near Buffalo on Monday . Its driver was saved after a passing motorist threw rocks at the windshield , cracking it and letting him escape . 'The tires were bursting all around me , ' he said . ' I just kept thinking it was the end . ' He tried to kick out the windshield but the thick smoke made the effort impossible , WIVB reported . Suddenly , a car pulled in front of the truck and its driver , Ed Brunner , jumped out . He attempted to smash the window with a metal bar - but the heat was too much . So instead , he grabbed concrete rocks that had fallen from the truck and started throwing them . To Coulter 's disbelief , the man managed to crack the windshield enough for him to kick his way out . 'That guy should have been a professional football player or something , ' Coulter said . 'It was just unbelievable . ' On footage taken by another passing motorist , Ed Brunner 's gray car can be seen , left , in front of the burning truck . The trapped driver , Larry Coulter , thought he was going to die before he saw Brunner approach . Brunner then helped the relieved driver escape . He left the scene before fire crews arrived on the scene and Coulter has not seen his 'guardian angel ' since . Coulter , a married father-of-two , was taken to the Erie County Medical Center where he was treated for smoke inhalation . 'He saved my life , ' Coulter said of Brunner . ' I owe him eternal gratitude . ' But Brunner told WIVB that he 's no hero . ' I did it because I saw another man who needed my help , ' he said . 'God put me there for a reason . '
A tire on Ed Brunner truck blew near Buffalo , New York , sending it into a guardrail and causing the vehicle to overturn and catch alight . He was unable to reach the doors because of flames so tried to kick out the windshield but could n't ; he thought he was going to die . Then passing motorist Larry Coulter 's jumped from his car and started throwing rocks that had fallen from the truck - breaking the windshield . Coulter was able to escape and was treated for smoke inhalation .