UNAKA – A 95-year-old Navy veteran who did not want to be identified, found himself needing help on June 1, as he lay trapped inside of his 4-door passenger vehicle after going down an embankment in Unaka.
The accident occurred off Joe Brown Highway near Bird Knob.
James Ferraro, who resides in the area where the accident occurred, heard a continual beeping horn and followed the sound until he came upon the scene.
Ferraro comforted the driver by letting him know that help was on the way. He climbed down the embankment to stay with the man, who was trapped in the car that wound up on its left side.
EMS, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, State Highway Patrol and the Unaka Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.
Ferraro believes that the repetitive honking helped save the victim's life and thinks that it's a good way for other victims to garner attention when trapped inside of a vehicle.
Ferraro and Trooper Isaac Boring expressed appreciation for the help and quick response of emergency personnel including the Sheriff's Office and the Unaka Volunteer Fire Department as well as neighbors.
The driver was not transported to the hospital.