MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Ruben Eng was driving a semi-trailer truck at about 3 a.m., on Thursday morning, in deep southern Miami-Dade County when he stopped at a gas station along Krome Avenue. He could have been sleepy, but he was alert — and that likely saved lives.
Eng was fueling the 18-wheeler with diesel at the Exxon gas station’s pump seven at Southwest 200 Street. Suddenly he saw smoke, and when he went to investigate, he saw flames in his cabin. He quickly jumped in the driver’s seat.
“In just 30 seconds,” Eng said about the speed of the flames that he said covered about 80% of the semi-trailer truck.
Eng, who owns the truck, drove it to a desolate area, as the flames spread. He held on to the steering wheel despite the heat and jumped out.
Firefighters arrived to face a big rig that was fully engulfed in flames. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel later determined Eng had suffered minor burns to his arm and ear.
Eng refused a ride to the hospital and said he was not a hero. The surveillance video from the gas station may show otherwise.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.