Donald Bessire Sent to Local Hospital After Trapped Inside Vehicle Overnight

A 62-year-old man trapped overnight in his pickup truck in a creek bed in Waco was rescued Tuesday afternoon.

Donald Bessire of Waco was driving his 2003 Chevy S-10 pickup truck at about 8:45 Monday night when the accident happened on Interstate 35 near the Pilot Truck Stop on the south side of Waco.

He lost control of the vehicle, sending it off the road and down an embankment into a creek. He was initially knocked unconscious but regained consciousness. Bessire could not get out from the vehicle as the doors were jammed from the accident. The truck remained upright overnight.

He called a friend for help but was not certain where he was. Bessire told his friend that he was near Loop 340 and Bagby.

Waco, Hewitt and Robinson Police Departments, along with Texas Department of Public Safety officers and the DPS helicopter, searched for Bessire, but were not able to locate the crash.

By noon on Tuesday, Bessire made another call and accurately determined where he was. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and the Robinson Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to cut into the truck to free the victim.

Bessire was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.