Accident survivors thank stranger who came to their aid

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two Houston men are recovering from injuries caused when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver.

Kristian Haugvoll pulled over on the side of the Katy Freeway near Eldridge on Wednesday night after experiencing car trouble. His neighbor, Keith Raughter, came to his aid with jumper cables. According to Houston police investigators, Michael Donelson, 21, hit both men with his SUV.

Good Samaritan Troy Cagle drove up on the accident scene and jumped into action.

"I looked to my right and noticed a man waving laying on the ground," said Cagle. "The gentleman who I helped was knocked over the side whenever the SUV hit his car. I took my shirt off and wrapped it around his leg."

Haugvoll and Raughter were in between the vehicles when they were struck.

"I got hit and I went forward," Raughter recalled. "I mean, we're laying on the ground and people were just going by and at least he stopped. He stayed with me until (the ambulance) came, and I'd just like to thank him for it."

We introduced Cagle to Raughter and Haugvoll's mother and mother-in-law. Their tears quickly turned to smiles and profound thanks for the compassion and generosity shown to their loved ones, by a stranger.

"We're on the mend," said Haugvoll's mother-in-law, Louise Horton, about her son-in-law's recovery. "He's in really good spirits and he's doing great considering what he went through."

"He would not be here if it weren't for you," Horton said to Cagle.

Haugvoll was rushed to the hospital and had to have part of his leg amputated. Raughter suffered from fractures and other injuries, but is back home.

Donelson is charged with intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury. He is out of jail on a $30,000 bail.