Bryan Deffinger began working as a truck driver in May. After only a few months on the job, he experienced a near-death experience on the job.
"It was just a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity," he said.
Deffinger was traveling on U.S. 127 in Camden, Ohio, Thursday when he said a red car traveling the opposite direction crossed over the yellow line and into his lane. His first instinct was to move into the shoulder of the road -- but a guardrail forced Deffinger's truck down an embankment instead.
"I was trying to keep control of (the truck)," he said. "My cab was shaking."
Deffinger's truck came to a stop at the bottom of the embankment. The truck was badly damaged and Deffinger was trapped in it.
"The left, driver-side cab was crushed in," he said. "The top was crashed...it was about an inch from my head. I looked down and my leg was trapped."
Deffinger said he couldn't find his phone, but he found another way to call for help: his Apple Watch. He asked Siri to call 911.
Soon, help arrived. Deffinger had to be extracted from the truck using the jaws of life, he said.
Deffinger has a badly bruised leg, but the driver of the red sedan suffered a broken collar bone and ankle, police said.
Deffinger -- a husband and a father of six -- said he has plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
"I hug my kids and my wife tighter," he said. "So much more to be thankful for this year for sure."
