Hero Saves Driverless Car Full of Children

With two screws in his knee, second and third degree burns and severe road rash, James Callahan's injuries are extensive. But the Flower Mound man says it's nothing compared to what could have happened a few weeks ago. 

"Yeah, I could have died. I didn't even think about that.  I wasn't thinking about myself at the time, I guess. It was just a pure reaction of trying to save a life," says Callahan.

He was at a Subway sandwich shop in Watauga on June 16 when he noticed a customer walk in, leaving five children unattended in her minivan. 

"A couple seconds later, I saw the van going backwards," said Callahan.

It was headed straight for state Highway 377, a six lane road with traffic in both directions. With just a second to react, the father of two raced to help.

"I had a plan when I was running out there. 'I'm going to hit the brake and throw it in park," he remembers thinking. 

"I couldn't get to it [the parking brake], so my plan kind of didn't work, but I did turn the van, and it went up against the curb and stopped."

James was knocked off balance in the process, and his left side compeletely run over.  He was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital and released hours later.  The next day, infection sent him back to Baylor Grapevine where he spent a week recovering. 

"It's been a very painful recovery. Most pain I've ever felt in my life," said Callahan.

But in spite of the pain, the father of two says he would do it all again without reservation. 

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