EXCLUSIVE: Good Samaritans help save man's life in Galveston crash
GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Police are investigating a motorcycle wreck involving a pedestrian that claimed two lives on the first day of the 2016 Lone Star Rally.
Investigators say Elias Chavana, 33, and Patricia Delgado, 29, were killed when they attempted to cross Seawall Boulevard at about 10:15pm Thursday right in front of the San Luis Hotel. There is no crosswalk where the pair was attempting to cross. Investigators say the two were from Katy and was attempting to walk to the beach from the hotel.
Eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene in the moments after the pedestrians were hit by a motorcycle headed westbound on Seawall Blvd.
"(The) guy got hit. Flung this way. Bike spun over twice by the IHOP right here. They went sliding. Tumbled a couple times," said Joshua Ferguson, who stopped to help the victims. "It's fight or flight man, you gotta help as much as you can."
Ferguson insists combat life support skills he learned in the Army kicked in. He gave mouth to mouth and started chest compressions on one of the people who had been on the motorcycle.
RELATED: Motorcycle crash kills two pedestrians in Galveston
Police can't say yet how fast the motorcycle was traveling. Detectives do say alcohol was not a contributing factor.
"It's a tragedy. It's horrible. Not typical," said Mark Gray with the Lone Star Rally. He says its an unfortunate start to the four day event. They're expecting over 400,00 bikers from across the country. They see this tragedy as an opportunity to remind all involved of the importance of safety, whether on bike or on foot.
"Our heart goes out to them no doubt," said Gray.
Police say the motorcycle operator and passenger were in Galveston for the Lone Star Rally. They were the only two to survive the wreck. They survived in large part due to perfect strangers who helped before EMS could arrive. Those were folks like Joshua Ferguson.
"It's what you're supposed to do," said Ferguson. He denies the label of "hero" and just hopes he made a difference.
The operator and passenger of that motorcycle were rushed to UTMB and are listed at last report in critical condition.
No charges have been filed but a police investigation is underway.
