A good Samaritan in Yonkers is being commended after jumping into action to help a tow truck driver who was hurt while working on the job.

Leonardo Mello, a tow truck operator for Transit Towing, was attempting to hook up a car around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on Orchard Street when the tow truck rolled backward and ran over the lower part of his leg, trapping him underneath.

People in the neighborhood heard Mello screaming, and numerous residents rushed out of their homes and called 911. Luis Perez says he and his fiancée grabbed a first aid kit and ran out. Perez says no one knew how to drive stick shift to try and move the truck, but he jumped in and gave it a shot. "I got in the cab of the truck, I fooled with it for a second, but I was able to get it in gear, and was able to roll it off of his foot. And after I rolled it off of his foot, thank God they had such a quick response time, and they were able to take care of him quickly," says Perez.

Mello says he's thankful to all those people who rushed out and got the truck off his foot as well as the emergency responders.  "I'm pretty sure the whole entire neighborhood was out there. I'm pretty sure that everybody from the bar and everybody from all those buildings were out there helping me, at least 30 - 40 people.”

Mello was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a very bad sprain and will be on crutches for the next two weeks. While hobbling on crutches, Mello came to work today and says he won’t be able to drive much for a while but can work dispatch.