Good Samaritan Uses Forklift to Save Teen

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The quick actions of a Good Samaritan and a piece of heavy equipment are being credited with helping to save the life of a Stark County teenager.

Police say Cody Humphrey, 18, was riding his bicycle down 53rd Street in Canton Township Thursday night. He tried to break at the stop sign, but went right in to the intersection. The Massillon teenager hit the side of a car and flew into the air, landed in the street, then struck by a second car and pinned under that vehicle.

Paul Kasapis lives across the street and has a business right next door. He rushed to help the teen.

He got on a forklift from his business and quickly went to raise the car off Cody’s body. 

“His face was directly under the engine and the rest of his body was where the exhaust from the car was,” Kasapis said. 

Canton Township Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Smith believes Kasapis’ actions saved first responders’ precious time getting to Humphrey and quite possibly saved the teen’s life. 

“The big thing here was the forklift had already lifted the car off the patient. The patient was actually burning from the catalytic converter when I arrived,” Deputy Fire Chief Smith added. 

Melissa Books, the teen’s mother, tells Fox 8 News that he son has two hip fractures and 3rd degree burns over parts of his body.  But, he is very grateful for the quick actions of his Good Samaritan.