DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — From her hospital bed at Jackson Memorial in Miami, Su Hninyi shared her story of survival following a fiery crash last week in Delray Beach.
"I just get emotional over all this," Hninyi said. "I couldn't believe we made it together. I'm so happy that everybody survived."
She credits the love of her life, Broward County firefighter Bryan Aparicio, with saving her life. The couple of four years were in the back of an Uber when a tanker truck nearby caught fire Oct. 25 along Interstate 95.
"We love each other even more now," Hninyi said. "We almost lost each other. I owe him my life."
According to investigators, a car cut off the fuel tanker and caused it to collide with the Uber. Plumes of thick black smoke filled the air and could be seen for miles. Surrounded by flames, Hninyi said, she feared the worst.
"I was sitting in the car thinking, I was just thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm not going to make this. We're not going to survive this. I'm going to die,'" she added.
Aparicio managed to get out of the burning car and then risked his own life, going back in to pull Hyninyi from the flames.
"We ran away from the car and it exploded behind us," she said.
Aparicio suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, arms and legs. Hyninyi escaped with severe burns to her arms and legs. The driver of the Uber has burns on over 35% of his body.
"I'm happy that I'm alive," Hyninyi said. "I'm happy that Brian is alive. I'm just happy that we are all here. That's what matters."
A total of five people were injured in the crash. The conditions of the other victims are still unclear.