Tow Truck Driver's Split-Second Decision Saves Man Trapped In Icy Culvert

January 31, 2026

Most drivers would have passed right by a muddy drainage culvert off a Texas highway — especially during an ice-covered winter storm.

Tow truck driver Douglas Lane didn’t.

 Douglas Lane / WFAA

While driving through Seagoville, Texas, Lane spotted a car stopped in the middle of the road and pulled over to check things out.

That’s when he heard shouts for help coming from the icy water below.

Without hesitation, Lane rushed to the culvert and reached down, grabbing hold of a man who had fallen into the frigid water. Police body camera footage later showed Lane clinging to the man’s sweatshirt hood, doing everything he could to keep his head above the surface.

"He gave up fighting to stay above the water. I said 'no, you're not going to do that.'"

As the freezing water and the man’s weight made it harder to hold on, Lane refused to let go. He called 911 and stayed locked in, even as the man began to lose strength.

Minutes later, officers arrived and formed a human chain, pulling the man safely out of the culvert. He was rushed to the hospital, where police say he is still recovering.

Officers at the scene immediately thanked Lane for his actions, and police leaders later said they believe his quick thinking saved the man’s life.

But Lane isn’t interested in praise or recognition. He says the moment sticks with him every time he drives past the culvert — not because he’s being called a hero, but because helping others is simply who he is.

“I wasn’t trying to get any kind of extra credit,” Lane said. “I’m just doing what I know best—and that’s helping others.”

Watch the video below: