A Bethel Park family found themselves trapped inside their car Thursday night when a large tree came crashing down during severe storms, leaving them surrounded by branches and power lines until two nearby residents rushed to help.
Maggie Sheffer was driving with her husband and their three young daughters when the family turned onto Highland from Bethel Church. Without warning, the tree struck their vehicle, shattering the windshield and forcing the roof downward.
Inside the car, the children began screaming and crying as the family tried to understand what had happened.
Sheffer said she and her husband reassured the girls that they were okay while they prayed and tried to figure out how they could escape.
The doors could not be opened, and the family was surrounded by tree limbs and wires. From inside the damaged vehicle, they were unsure whether anyone outside could even see them.
Just a short distance away, Isabella Dudjak and her boyfriend, Luke Fordyce, had been watching television when the power went out. They heard a loud noise outside and noticed flashing lights through the storm.
The couple went outside to investigate and quickly realized that people were trapped in the vehicle.
Dudjak and Fordyce called out to see if everyone was okay. After making contact with the family, they worked to find a way into the vehicle.
They were eventually able to lift the trunk and help Sheffer’s husband out first. The couple then helped the three children and Sheffer escape from the damaged car.
For the family, the actions of the two strangers became the most important part of an otherwise frightening night.
Sheffer later described their help as an unexpected blessing and said she was especially grateful that her daughters were able to see an example of people stepping forward to help others in a dangerous situation.
Dudjak said she simply thought about what she would hope someone would do if she were trapped in a similar situation.
The rescue came as severe weather moved through the Pittsburgh region, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and widespread storm-related problems. The National Weather Service had warned of wind gusts capable of reaching 60 mph in the Bethel Park area, with trees and power lines among the expected hazards.
The storms also caused flooding and other disruptions across Western Pennsylvania, with Bethel Park among the communities affected by the severe weather.
The damaged vehicle remained at the scene for nearly a day before a tow truck removed it at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.
For the Sheffer family, however, the lasting memory of the storm may be less about the damage to their car and more about the strangers who ran toward them when they needed help most.
