On Dec. 25 an SUV spun off icy U.S. Route 50 in Northern California and became wedged against a fallen tree, hanging above a steep slope. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ruben Tala and several motorists formed a human chain and used a rope to stabilize the vehicle, enabling rescuers to pull a couple and their two dogs to safety. No serious injuries were reported; Tala credited his military training and said he was simply helping.
Strangers Form Human Chain to Save Couple and Two Dogs as SUV Hangs Off Icy Highway Ledge on Christmas
Yvett Banares-Tala
A terrifying Christmas Day crash on a snow-slick stretch of U.S. Route 50 in Northern California turned into a dramatic rescue when motorists formed a human chain to stabilize an SUV teetering on a steep embankment.
What Happened
The incident occurred on Dec. 25 as a powerful winter storm swept the region. Dashcam and bystander video show the SUV spinning out of control, leaving the roadway and coming to rest wedged against a fallen tree, hundreds of feet above the slope below. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ruben Tala, who was driving behind the vehicle with his wife and daughter while traveling toward Lake Tahoe, was among the first to reach the scene.
Yvett Banares-Tala
Immediate Action
Recognizing the risk that the vehicle could slide further down the embankment, Tala and other Good Samaritans quickly worked to stabilize it. Tala asked for rope, and one bystander returned with a rope while several others linked hands to form a human chain. At one point Tala held the driver’s door as others anchored him from behind to prevent any movement.
"When I saw the car spin out, I thought about my wife and my daughter... Somebody has to help," Tala told KCRA. "The only thing I had in mind is to rescue those passengers."
Rescue and Aftermath
Working together, the group extracted the driver and his wife and removed the couple's two dogs from the vehicle. NBC News reported no serious injuries. The rescued couple declined interviews but expressed gratitude for the quick intervention. In a small coincidence, one rescued dog was named Luna — the same name as Tala’s young daughter.
KCRA 3/YouTubeYvette Bañares-Tala and Air Force Staff Sgt. Ruben Tala
Tala, who is stationed at Travis Air Force Base, credited his military training and adrenaline for his actions but downplayed being called a hero: "I’m just doing my part to help somebody else. That’s how we’re trained in the Air Force."
Context
The crash occurred on a stretch of U.S. Route 50 known for hazardous winter driving; the storm that day caused multiple accidents and road closures across the region. Dashcam and bystander footage of the rescue circulated widely after the incident, highlighting the quick thinking and cooperation of strangers that prevented a likely catastrophe.
Help us improve.
