chris garth and his colleagues watch helplessly from their perch high above. their reactions recorded as the camera rolls. >> is someone under the vehicle? >> the biker's under. >> oh, my gosh. >> there's no time to wait for police or firefighters. >> the guy next to me said we need to lift this car. >> to reach the rider, alder and a handful of bystanders attempt to lift the car, which weighs almost 4,000 pounds. but they can't get it more than a few inches off the ground. >> it was scary. not because the flame. we could feel we didn't get anywhere. and you're lifting but nothing was coming out of it. you know, it was somebody's life in your hands, and you can't do anything about it. >> alder gets back down to check on the rider. >> i said, hey, can you hear me? and he didn't respond. >> but she can see his chest moving. back on her feet, she points to the rider letting the others know he's still alive. by this time, more bystanders have converged on the wreckage, including graduate student james o'day who comes rushing in to help lift the car a second time.