Good Samaritans Lift Transit Van Off Pinned Woman Along Busy 14th Street

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A woman was struck by a transit van in Chelsea Thursday night and found herself trapped underneath, and witnesses who saw it happen stepped in to save her.

As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, Good Samaritans actually lifted the van off the woman.

The accident happened at 8:19 p.m. at the bustling intersection of 14th Street and Sixth Avenue, officials said. Witnesses said the woman was in the middle of the crosswalk when she was hit by an Access-A-Ride van and pinned underneath.

Witnesses said the van might have run a yellow light and hit the woman as she was crossing. When she became pinned underneath, the Good Samaritans rushed in, in a heroic effort to try to save her.

"I was in the front seat and she's like, 'Oh my God, that woman just got hit by that transit vehicle," said witness Robyn Loda. "It was a great, heartwarming moment, though, for New York because everybody just swarmed to help, and they lifted this vehicle. And while I was crossing, that was happening, and when I came around, there was already an ambulance pulling in."

Witnesses told CBS2 the victim was put in a neck brace and her arm was severely injured. She was taken away to Bellevue Hospital Center in serious, but stable, condition.

As for the driver of that van -- police are investigating but no charges have been filed.