ATLANTA,None — A man rescued from a burning car at a DeKalb County gas station is back home and speaking out about his ordeal and the man who saved him.
A crash at the intersection of Briarcliff and Clairmont Thursday morning sent John Catanas car spinning out of control.
Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Aaron Diamant spent Friday working the phones trying to track down Catana. Diamant found Catana grateful for the man who saved his life.
I couldnt control my wheel, Catana said Friday at his Gwinnett County home. I couldnt control my brakes.
Catana said he remembers the impact and the explosion.
I was scared to death, Catana said.
Catana's burning car became pinned against the Chevron stations gas pumps. He had no way out as the fire raged.
When I was 20 [years old], I gave my life to the Lord, Catana said. I knew that in every situation, He will control my life.
That's when bystander Eddie Evans rushed in to help.
I seen the guy struggling and realized his door was jammed, said Evans in an interview shortly after the crash. I ran to try to get him out, and his seat belt was holding him.
Evans eventually pulled Catana to safety through a blown-out window.
Without his help, [there] was no way to be alive today, Catana said.
Catana and his daughter, Andrea Gruian, now call Evans their angel.
To me, it says a lot about him as a person, so its pretty amazing, Gruian said.
However, Evans says hes no hero.
I would hope that somebody else did the same for me if I was in the same situation, Evans said.
Still, Catana struggles to express how grateful he is for what Evans did in this situation.
Without you, I couldnt be saved, Catana said of Evans.
Catana and Evans still havent met, although they have spoken on the phone a few times. Catana told Diamant he wants to meet Evans soon, so he can thank him personally for saving his life.
WSBTV
