BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Joseph Bryant doesn’t consider himself a hero, but feels he was in the right place at the right time. However, he’s about the only one in his family who feels this way.
Talking to his father, John Bryant, while John works on cars is normal. Joseph said he always talks to his dad and Sunday, December 9th, was not unusual.
The 22-year-old Tampa native shared the events of that afternoon that will be etched into his memory forever.
“My dad had the back of the truck on the ramps repairing a small leak. I was directly behind it talking to him as I usually do. He was underneath the truck when it came off very fast.
“I jumped up to avoid being hit by the truck, spun around and I heard my father scream. I began pushing the truck and all I knew was that he was screaming. I kept pushing it until I saw him crawl from under it. He was in so much pain he could hardly speak.”
Joseph said at that point his mother and brother came outside and they called the ambulance.
“We didn’t know how bad he was hurt at the time. By the time the ambulance arrived, he started having problems breathing. He was phasing in and out of consciousness because of the pain.”
After his father arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the family learned that John had suffered 4 fractured ribs, a broken collarbone, and a punctured lung, among other injuries.
Joseph already works a full and part-time job. But he was supposed to sign up for an auto mechanics class the week his father was injured. He currently works as a power supply technician on his full time job. His part-time job is in a sandwich shop.
“I want to become a mechanic so that I can help people. I just want to be successful,” the 2009 Hillsborough High School graduate said.
He seldom has time for hobbies, but he enjoys spending time with his fiancé, his 3-year-old daughter, Alisia, and other family members.
When asked how he managed to move it with such ease, Joseph said, “I don’t know how I was able to move it with such ease. I guess instinct just kicked in. When we returned home from the hospital, it took two of my brothers to move the truck.”
John realizes if his son had not been outside, the outcome could have been far worse. He credits his son with saving his life.
John Bryant said it was around noon when he put his 1993 Ford Bronco on the ramps, but he didn’t lock the wheels. He placed the emergency brake on the vehicle and removed the drive shaft.
“I was just working too fast. The truck rolled on me, and my son, Joe, heard me screaming, ran over and pushed it off me. He stopped it from rolling on me further.”
Bryant said he was working on the truck at his home in the 3500 block of N. 12th Street. His girlfriend and one of his other sons were home at the time, but all they heard was him screaming.
A Tampa native, Bryant attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1978. The 53-year-old said he made a career of being a mechanic. Joseph is the youngest of his 5 sons. He attends College Hill Church of God In Christ.
“I’m feeling better and the doctors took the tubes out of my chest. I hope I’ll be home for Christmas,” he said.
