The following is from the Chicago Tribune:
The Hechtman brothers had closed up their Skokie restaurant Sunday night and were driving home when the semi-truck in front of them swerved on the Edens Expressway near Tower Road, struck another car and burst into flames.
Without thinking, Ken Hechtman stopped his car and the two brothers ran toward opposite ends of the truck. With each step, they could feel intense, searing heat and see the dark smoke in the air turn thicker. They also heard the truck explode twice, Ken Hechtman said in an interview today.
Daniel Hechtman, 54, ran toward the front of the semi and helped pull a passenger out of the fiery compartment. He carried the passenger’s limp body to the side of the road. The man started shaking, as if he was having spasms, Daniel Hechtman said.
Meanwhile, the elder Hechtman ran toward the back of the truck, intending to stop traffic. Instead, he heard voices calling for help underneath the truck.
“I heard the screaming and there was nothing else in my mind (but) to run toward the voices,” said Ken Hechtman, 60. “There was no time to think. It’s adrenaline. It’s all adrenaline.”
As he walked toward the truck, he saw a car underneath with a woman and young girl lying next to the vehicle. The woman’s hair was on fire and flames covered the back of the girl’s jacket, Ken Hechtman said.
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9 Responses
Baruch Hashem, they happen to be an amazing family and huge Gomlei Chesed!
Their restaraunt also makes amazing food!! Can’t find anything like it in NY or anywhere else!
May Hashem give them much schar for their recent heroism and Kiddush Hashem!
WHAT, no burger buddies?
Oh man i so want a burger buddy the best burger ever!!
Real authentic American food. This joint puts to shame any NY Kosher fast food establishment. Best food and priced well as well. And Bugsy’s, forget about it. Shame they closed that part down
Definitely a Kiddush Hashem.
What does the fact that they have a restaurant have to do with the story? Stam, hock?
If you’re already making a big deal about the eatery, under what/whose Hechsher is it?
The family are huge donors to many communal causes and run a great resturant. Even you tri state snobs will admit that the Burger Buddy is the best kosher burger in the US.
@#5
It is under the Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC)
Although there is a sizeable portion of the community that will not eat there and v’hamevin yavin.
5.
They are in Chicago so obviously they would be under the cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council). Yes, the food is very good & there’s NOTHING like it back east.
Not that we should ask to be tested but I pray that if HaShem ever does place me in a similar position that I will act in exactly the same wonderful way that these two heroes acted.
Definitely a Kiddush Hashem! We know the Hechtman brothers well. Very nice people. In fact, my husband worked at Ken’s diner when we first moved here to Chicago.
Yes it is a great restaurant which of course has nothing to do with this heroic story. But I bet they get a lot more business now. 😉