This wonít be just another night at Lake Stevens Fire Station 82.
Usually, we take people to the hospital and we donít ever hear from them.
And we donít know the extent of their injuries or anything like that.
So, itís nice to be able to meet somebody and, you now, personally.
Especially when it comes to someone who, somehow, managed to survive this.
What one veteran firefighter calls the worst crash scene heís ever witnessed.
It was December 7th The driver of the Subaru that crossed the
center line that night died at the scene.
His passenger...the woman he planned to marry...died weeks later.
Ultimately, four vehicles were caught-up in the crash.
But it was the Chevy pick-up that got hit head-on by the Subaru.
The driver in the Chevy...trapped inside with internal bleeding and numerous broken bones.
In order to get to him, firefighters peeled-away one side of the pick-up...removed most of
the front seats...then worked to remove the driverís legs still pinned beneath the dash.
Five days later, that driver, Timmothy Lang, finally woke-up.
His pelvis broken in three areas.
His shoulder broken.
A lung collapsed.
Ribs fractured.
Jawbone shattered.
Two bones in one arm broken clean through.
Six spinal fractures.
And lacerations to his spleen and liver.
But Lang had survived.
And nearly two months after that horrible crash...
Hello everybody.
How yaí doing?
Iím doing well.
Heís come here so that he can look into the eyes of these firefighters and thank them
for helping to save his life.
Me and Garth are the ones that pulled you out.
Really?
Well, Iím very, very appreciative.
So, do you remember much from the accident?
I donít remember any of it.
Youíre lucky you were driving an Avalanche, thatís for sure.
You know, when I woke up, that was some of my first thoughts.
I was like, ëMan, Iím sure happy I decided to get the Avalanche.
Iíve never seen so much destruction in a vehicle that big.
That was insane.
Right, it just looked like...
It was destroyed.
It exploded.
Yeah.
At this point, no one knows why the other driver, 27-year old Tyler Martel, crossed
the center line.
We may never know.
Where are your mind and heart regarding Tyler?
Well, Iíve realized that this has kind of been a test for me.
And Iíve learned a lot about myself.
ëCause I woke up and I was told what happened.
And Iíve never felt any anger or resentment towards him.
And I learned, I learned about myself.
I was, I was able to forgive him.
I was able to understand that heís a human being like the rest of us.
We make mistakes.
We make silly decisions.
We donít even know exactly what happened.
Weíve got the police report that shows he crossed the center line and hit me head on.
And uh, Iím sorry that he lost his life and that his fiancÈ lost hers, too.
Martell and Stephanie Proffitt appear together in this photo taken about an hour before the
crash.
The couple visited Tylerís parents in Mill Creek.
No official word yet on whether Tyler Martel was driving under the influence when he crossed
that center line on that early December night.
Investigators are still waiting for the Medical Examinerís final report.
But those who know Martel best insist that he was not driving while intoxicated.
In a telephone conversation...Tylerís mother told me her son was offered a drink at her
house that night, but turned it down, explaining that he had ìprecious cargo to get home,î
a reference to Stephanie.
Mrs. Martel told me that when her son left her home that night, less than 30-minutes
before the crash, he was, quote, ìas sober as a judge.î
In January...Lang met Tylerís mom.
My first contact was at Stephanieís memorial.
And when I saw, her nameís Patrice, Tylerís mother, once she saw me, she just, just gave
me the biggest hug.
And it was, it felt just felt great.
Iím never going to forget that hug.
It was just so honest and so loving and so, she just, you could tell that she honestly
cared and she showed it.
And in that same spirit, Lang aims to show these firefighters that he cares about themÖ
bringing his momís homemade cupcakes, sharing a poster highlighting scenes along his road
to recovery.
Well, Iíd like to, you know, shake your guysí hands.
You know.
Tonight, itís Timmothy Langís turn to reach-out.
I just am thankful for the whole community working together.
Iíve had people tell me that theyíre praying for me; people that Iíve never even met before.
I heard a story from my neighbors, my parentsí neighbors who live across the street, about
a young boy who has prayed for me every time before he eats food.
To be able to, uhm, thank the people that have saved your childís life, itís like
somebody had pointed-out, December 7th was almost like a rebirth for Timmothy because
of the determination that they had to be able to get him out.
Itís, itísÖ Itís inspiring to know that thereís people out there that do these types
of jobs.
I think theyíre amazing.
I donít know if I have any more words to say than that.
Lang is expected to walk again.
He already manages to stand, finding support from familiar hands.
I donít think this is going to make my life worse.
Uhm, I know this is going to make my life better and itís up to me to figure-out what,
what itís all about and Iíve already learned a lot.
Langís medical bills are mounting.
He says just one recent bill was for more than 3-hundred-thousand-dollars.
A fundís been set-up to help pay for his medical expenses.
Donations to the Timmothy Lang fund can be made at any branch of the bank of Whidbey
Island.
In Lake Stevens, Mark Horner reporting.