Man rescued from burning vehicle in north loop shares ordeal; police still investigating

For nearly three weeks, Jim Wahl has remained hospitalized after being pulled by good samaritans from the burning vehicle that was rear-ended by a car in the North Loop of Minneapolis.

“I’ve been through a lot," he said. "It’s painful, but I’m getting through."

Wahl told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that two friends were dropping him off after work at his building near the 700 block of Washington Avenue North in Minneapolis when the car he was in was hit by another vehicle late on July 28.

“I felt the car spinning," he said. "The next thing I knew it was fire and flames all around me."

He added, “I knew I had to get out of the car, I could feel my legs burning pretty bad. I knew if I didn’t get out from under there I was going to die.”

Workers from the Smack Shack restaurant heard the accident and raced down the street that night to see flames flickering in Wahl’s vehicle before they helped pulled him and a woman out.

“I’m grateful to all the people who risked their lives really to help me get me out of that situation," he said.

Wahl has had numerous surgeries for burns, while also being treated for eight broken ribs and broken bones at a Minneapolis hospital.

Minneapolis Police said their accident investigation team continues to wait for the toxicology report to come back that was taken from the other driver who had minor injuries but remained at the scene.

Police said previously they were looking to see if the striking vehicle’s driver had been speeding and drag racing before the incident.

Restaurant employees race to save people from burning car in Minneapolis

Wahl told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that speeding cars are something he’s witnessed on Washington Avenue North in the days before the incident.

“I have literally said this to more than one friend, ‘I can’t believe somebody hasn’t died out here,’" he said. "Little do I know the next one was almost me.”

Wahl, who works as a bartender at a North Loop restaurant, said the support from the hospitality industry and strangers has been very meaningful.

“I’m very humbled by how many people have been there for me, supporting me," he said. "It would have been very difficult without of all of them.”

To give to Wahl’s GoFundMe, click here.