Ohio pastor convinced an angel saved his life after horrific crash: "I shouldn't have survived"
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Do you believe in angels? According to an Associated Press survey, 77% of Americans think angels are real, including an Ohio pastor who insists an angel saved his life after a horrific crash.
“No one should’ve been able to touch the car. I shouldn’t have survived," Pastor John Boston said.
The young husband and father was driving on Airport Road in Columbus, Ohio in April 2015 when another car crossed the center line and came barreling toward him.
Boston swerved to miss the vehicle and struck a utility pole. A live transformer came down on his car. Immediately, the metal and glass began to buckle due to the intense heat from thousands of volts of electricity.
“The windshield was melting. The passenger window was folding into the car," Boston said.
Boston, who had recently accepted a position with Central Seventh Day Adventist Church and moved to Columbus with his wife Carla and their four-year-old daughter Riley, was trapped inside the burning car.
He says the seat belt was stuck and door wouldn’t open.
That’s when Boston says a “scruffy looking” stranger came out of nowhere and, he says, easily opened the smashed door.
Boston says the man removed him from the car and walked him 20 yards away from the vehicle to safety, just before it exploded in flames.
“He said 'my name is Johnny. The police are almost here and I can’t be here when they get here but you’re gonna be OK.' And then the man was gone," Boston said.
First responders arrived and rushed Boston to the hospital -- where he was treated for what turned out to be only minor injuries.
Boston was questioned about the mysterious man.
He says people tried to rationalize the situation and thought maybe the circuit breaker tripped and "Johnny" fled because of sketchy past.
However, even firefighters say there are some aspects of what happened that defy logic, reason and science.
Veteran Columbus firefighters told FOX8 WJW in Columbus no one should’ve been able to “touch” or “walk” away from a car with a live transformer on top of it.
The circuit breaker could’ve tripped -- but one firefighter said they’re designed to immediately reset themselves -- and electricity was still coursing through the car when help arrived on scene.
Additionally, officials with the power company said the area never lost electricity.
“With a transformer on the car, that’s probably one of the worst runs we could roll up on," one firefighter said.
Firefighters say rescuing someone from a scenario in which there's a live transformer on a vehicle is extremely complicated.
“The person that touches that car…he’s the ground. You have to jump away from the vehicle and shuffle your feet, but even that’s risky," one firefighter said.
But yet -- in Boston's case, both he and "Johnny" weren't (badly) hurt.
“It gives me goosebumps,” one firefighter said.
As for Boston -- he's convinced his rescuer was an angel.
He decided to share his story publicly in hopes of inspiring others who may have lost faith.
He says the experience has dramatically changed his life. He says he is more determined to serve his city and help as many people as possible. After months of physical therapy, he and his congregation have increased efforts to feed the hungry and they’re currently organizing a large mission’s trip to Haiti.
"I don’t think angels come to us with wings and white robes shining lights. I think they come as help -- and that’s what I had that day,” Boston said.