Teen survives getting hit by pickup truck, reunites with first responders who saved him

GLENDALE, Ariz. (KNXV) - An Arizona teenager who was hit by a pickup truck while biking to school last year says he’s thankful to be alive after reuniting with the first responders who saved his life.

Zeyad Elsuhimi was hit by a pickup truck in August 2025 while riding his bike to school in Glendale. Then 13, the teenager was pinned under the truck, and when first responders with the Glendale Fire Department arrived, he was in critical condition.

“The first thing we initially saw was that… tire was directly over his chest, and all that weight was pinned on top of him,” firefighter-paramedic Aaron McMurdie said.

“He has no pulse, and he’s not breathing, and when you look at him, this kid’s head was purple,” Glendale Fire Capt. Gregg Lentz said.

Firefighters and paramedics worked to lift the truck off Zeyad, cut away his bike – which was still wrapped around his leg – and rushed him to the hospital.

Zeyad, now 14, survived the incident, even though a local newspaper reported he had died; his family still has a copy of that paper. After months of recovery, the teen, who is a freshman at Mountain Ridge High School, says he is nearly back to his usual self.

On Wednesday, Zeyad reunited with the first responders who came to his rescue all those months ago, shaking the hands of his heroes and delivering his thanks in person.

“Thank you guys for saving me because I honestly wouldn’t be here without you guys and the doctors who helped me and everybody who helped me along the process,” he said.

“You are one tough kid,” Fire Capt. Tommy Gobster told him. “Kudos to you for being strong and tough, man.”

Zeyad says the experience has given him a new sense of direction, and he now plans to become a doctor.

“I hope to be a doctor actually, one day,” he said. “Because after this experience, it’s made me realize the beauty of saving lives, and I would like to do it for other people.”

A spokesperson for the Glendale Fire Department provided the following names of heroes who helped save Zeyad’s life:

Engine 156: Capt. Tommy Gobster, engineer/medic T. Love, firefighter/medic Brian Millick and firefighter paramedic Kasey Gallagher

Ladder Truck 155: Capt. Gregg Lentz, engineer paramedic Aaron McMurdie, firefighter paramedic Josh Boothby and firefighters Gene Tracy and Nathan Calles