Today’s must-watch video (Updated x2)
Friday, Mar 1, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is so great…
The IDOT worker’s comments start at about 1:15.
…Adding… Sun-Times…
Steve Newcomb thought he had seen every kind of crash during his years working as an overnight minuteman tow truck driver for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
That was the case until early Friday when, for the first time, he played the role of a first responder and pulled two women from a burning car on the Kennedy Expressway. […]
Newcomb has been working for the Illinois Department of Transportation for 22 years, most of them doing maintenance, plowing and grass cutting, he said. He’s been doing minuteman patrols for five years.
“I’ve seen every kind of crash,” he said. “But I’ve never been on scene where there was a fire where I could pull someone out.”
…Adding… Teamsters press release…
“My job is to help keep people safe on our roadways, and that’s why I knew I had to do something to help those motorists this morning,” said Local 700 member Steve Newcomb. “I am so relieved I was there to take action to get those women to safety. Keeping people safe is what we do at Local 700, and I am just glad I was able to do my part.”
“Steve Newcomb is a hero, full stop,” said Local 700 President Ramon Williams. “Every day, the dedicated public servants of Local 700 work to keep our communities safe. This morning, Steve went above and beyond, and for that we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you to Steve and all of the first responder union members who help keep us safe on the roadways!”
Local 700 encourages all motorists to stay safe on Chicagoland roadways and to always slow down and use caution around IDOT workers.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:21 am:
I’d probably show that video at the negotiating table between the Teamsters and the state.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:23 am:
Excellent.
However, I hear absolutely no accent whatsoever in how he is speaking.
- Dave Dahl - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:24 am:
Good on Judy / WGN for naming the photographer. Just try doing it without those guys.
IDOT guy straight outa Central Casting.
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:28 am:
“Den I set ‘er down in da frunch room and I says to her pal, you wanna come wit?”
- Bruce( no not him) - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:37 am:
Regional accent?
Sounds normal to me.
People in Chicago should talk to downstaters more often.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:37 am:
Love this. Thanks for sharing it.
- regular democrat - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:44 am:
Regional accent thick as molasses? Not sure what that means. Probably the most dangerous job in America being a Minuteman but he was calm and cool made it look easy. True professional . Great job.
- KSDinCU - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 10:51 am:
A hero. But also, the sight of that poor woman’s legs, hard to watch.
- Moe Berg - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:02 am:
Mr. Steve Neukom (sp?) is a hero. Exemplifies the best in people and government workers.
Deserves a day of recognition in Springfield and, ongoing labor negotiations with IDOT workers to the side, I hope the governor’s team will still recognize the need to celebrate this man’s selflessness and courage pronto.
- Chicago Voter - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:10 am:
I heard that guy over by dar and didn’t pick up on any accent.
Great job on the part of this IDOT worker.
- JoanP - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:18 am:
= People in Chicago should talk to downstaters more often. =
I’m a Chicagoan and I understood every word he said, no problem. I kept thinking, “what accent?”
Aside from that, amazing job. It really struck me about how matter-of-fact he was about the incident. Quite a guy.
- Bull Durham - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:25 am:
Dats a Sahx fain. Betcha.
- Been There - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:38 am:
==== Regional accent?
Sounds normal to me====
I agree with Bruce. I didn’t even notice it when I saw it before this post.
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 11:52 am:
“With everyone standing on the shoulder, I’m like why are their people in a burning car?”
Hero.
Well done Steve.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:03 pm:
1) Give that man a raise, and a medal.
2) Lived in southern Illinois all my life. If people think that’s an accent they should stay where they’re at.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:11 pm:
After he finished his shift we went and ordered, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger while he told the waiter Da Bears need to bring Ditka back.
- Linus - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:13 pm:
#hero
And like many others, here, this isn’t remotely close to what I would consider a “thick” accent.
- Behind the Scenes - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:16 pm:
Excellent job by an IDOT Minute Man. Excellent.
Front-line workers do these things every day.
Just watched a fireman in Louisville, KY pluck the driver of a semi out of the rig after it crashed through a guard rail on a bridge over the Ohio River. Fireman was at the end of a line hung over the river from a ladder truck. Grabbed the driver and held him as they were raised back onto the bridge.
- BC - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:25 pm:
Interesting story from a few years ago about the Chicago accent fading away. I knew it was dying when a Beverly kid in her early 20’s told me she’d never heard anyone say “yous guys.”
https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/why-the-classic-chicago-accent-is-disappearing/
- Just a Citizen - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:29 pm:
Good for him and what he did; he is a true hero!
- Former Teamster - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 12:39 pm:
@ Demoralized
They reached a tentative agreement last week. Voting begins in two weeks.
- West Side the Best Side - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 1:12 pm:
Great job by Minuteman Steve Newcome. Just totally in control of the situation and calm and collected throughout. But, accent? What chu talkin about?
- ChrisB - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 1:24 pm:
Not to take away from the heroism in saving two lives, but can we also point out that he had the foresight to push the car out from under the bridge to prevent even more damage and destruction?
- SpiDem - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 2:18 pm:
I don’t know if the State of Illinois issues awards, but this guy deserves all of them.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Mar 1, 24 @ 3:21 pm:
What a guy And absolutely no accent. I bet when his shift done he went to the Jewels and bought a 6 pack