A heartwarming reunion took place recently between a woman and the man who saved her life 27 years ago in a tragic car crash in Southern California. The incident occurred in North Hills on October 14, 1997, when a vehicle carrying Rebecca Anderson and her mother, Linda Wageman, was struck by a car attempting to evade police.
Following the collision, the car caught fire, resulting in the tragic loss of Wageman's life. However, Anderson was rescued by a compassionate bystander, police officer Daniel Mena, who witnessed the harrowing event.
After the crash, Anderson had not seen Mena until their emotional reunion earlier this week. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Anderson tearfully expressed her thanks to Mena for his heroic actions that fateful night.
It wasn't until February that Anderson learned about Mena's role in saving her life when he reached out to her through a heartfelt letter. Prior to this revelation, Anderson had believed that first responders were responsible for her rescue.
Recalling the events of that night, Mena shared how he pulled Anderson from the wreckage and sought to save Wageman as well, despite the intense heat preventing him from doing so.
After a week of hesitation, Anderson finally contacted Mena, who recounted the details of the rescue. The pair then decided to meet in person, with Anderson wearing a special yellow t-shirt commemorating the date of the crash and Mena's name as a token of remembrance.
Both Anderson and Mena expressed their desire to meet again in the future, highlighting the enduring bond forged through a life-changing event that connected them for nearly three decades.
