A Colorado grandfather known for his determination and "fix it" mentality remained in critical but improving condition Thursday after saving his 12-day-old granddaughter from being hit by a truck while crossing an intersection the day after Thanksgiving.
What began as a joyous family outing to the annual tree lighting and candle walk in the Denver suburb of Littleton on November 28 turned into a tragedy when a Dodge pickup truck came toward Durango resident James Lewin, 65, who was pushing his infant granddaughter, Sara Miller, in her stroller, according to reports in Denver news outlets. Lewin forced the stroller out of harm's way, breaking the handle and bending the axle from the sheer force, and saving the newborn, said his wife, Carol Lewin, 66.
Carol Lewin was not surprised by her husband's act of heroism. "He has that 'fix it' mentality," she said of the retired Los Angeles County firefighter today in a joint phone interview with her daughter, Sara's mom, Suzanne Miller.
The truck dragged Lewin 75 feet before it stopped and the grandfather was pinned beneath it, the Lewin family wrote on their webpage at caringbridge.org. Lewin sustained multiple fractures and contusions, and a head injury, according to Andrea Reinig, spokesperson for Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Col., where he is being treated.
The family is optimistic that Lewin, a retired Los Angeles firefighter, will recover.
"He is a tough person," said Miller. "His [survival] tells me that he wants to pull through and to be with his family."
Carol Lewin attributes the safety of her granddaughter and her husband's will to live to her Methodist faith and the outpouring of support from friends and family.
"It is my faith in god, all of the love shown by family friends and neighbors. … You can't believe how many blessing there have been," she said. While the family awaits medical updates, they spend their time talking to Lewin and trying to stay positive.
"We tell him that that we love him, that we need him," said Miller. "We tell him, We know you love us, just try to relax and let your body heal. … We try to just talk to him about when he gets out of the hospital, how we will go fishing."
The driver of the Dodge, who has not been named at presstime, was cited with careless driving resulting in injury, according to ABC affiliate krdo.com. Police said they did not believe alcohol was involved in the accident.
Lieutenant Mike Broadhead, Littleton Police Department public information officer, said in a phone interview today that he expected accident investigators to submit their report Thursday, but had not yet received it and had no updates on the investigation.
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