SEMINOLE, Fla. – George Zimmerman helped rescue a family of four from an overturned sports utility vehicle just four days after being found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin.
According to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in Florida, the accident happened around 5:45 p.m. on July 17 near the Interstate 4 and 417 interchange. According to several witnesses, a blue Ford Explorer, being driven by Mark Gerstle, lost control and flipped over near the on-ramp to I-4 eastbound from 417. According to Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman did not witness the crash, but stopped moments afterward and helped stabilize the vehicle and pull the family to safety. "That's just who he is," said O'Mara. "This is so typical of him that it makes perfect sense to me." O'Mara said Zimmerman was in a vehicle with a friend when they came upon the crash scene. "I think any one of us, if we came on a scene like that, would look at it and say they may need help. That's George's way. He gave the help he thought may be needed," said O'Mara. While Zimmerman and another passerby stopped to help, at least eight other people called 911. "It turned over and we saw smoke," said one 911 caller. "I don't know if it's on fire. There's other people that are helping the people." The sheriff's office reports Mark and Dana Gerstle and their two children were inside the vehicle. O'Mara said the Gerstle family immediately recognized Zimmerman, as did the other person who stopped to help, but no one made mention of that on any of the 911 calls.
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Lisa Bell has been in Central Florida since 2007, covering the big stories that impact our community. Lisa was promoted to News 6 evening news co-anchor in May 2014.