Family’s SUV dangled off a ledge after a crash — until an Air Force member used one military technique to quickly pull them to safety
Snow-slick mountain roads could have turned a family's holiday drive into a tragedy. But a hero at the scene helped prevent the worst. Air Force Staff Sergeant Ruben Tala was driving with his family on Christmas Eve on a snow-slick Northern California highway when he noticed an SUV teetering hundreds of feet above a slope, resting against a tree. Instead of panicking or moving away from the scene, the good Samaritan decided to step into a rescue mission, using one military technique that ultimately saved a family from a tragedy, as reported by KCRA 3 on December 29, 2025.
Sergeant Ruben Tala was traveling with his family in the Sierra corridor around 8 a.m. toward Lake Tahoe when he saw an SUV ahead of him spin out of control and teeter hundreds of feet above the slope. The snow-slick highway, known for hazardous mountainous winter storms, witnessed the car being swept off the road. Tala, who grew anxious at this moment, was only able to think of rescuing the family. "When I saw the car spin out, I thought about my wife and my daughter," Tala told KCRA.
Tala quickly put his military training to use. He ran towards the car wreck and began shouting for help to pull people to form a human chain, according to GMA. As per the security footage, Tala began yelling to ask if anyone had a rope, and immediately, one passenger ran back to his truck to get a rope. Together, all of the bystanders joined Tala to form a human chain that held the car in place and prevented it from tumbling down. With great effort, the team was able to pull the family inside the car to safety. Tala's wife, Yvett, immediately dialed 911 and got the assurance that they would be able to save the car once the passengers were out of danger.
A 2016 study published in Scientific Reports examined how people cooperate during collective emergencies using a help-or-escape social dilemma. The study found that under pressure, individuals are just as willing to take risks to help others as they are in normal situations. Interestingly, most individuals followed an egalitarian approach, which worked effectively during the crisis. If it weren't for the collective effort of the bystanders, Tala wouldn't have been able to single-handedly stop the car from falling off the slope. Coincidentally, the rescued couple had two dogs, with one of them named Luna, which was also Tala's daughter's name. Thankfully, none of the passengers were injured. The couple were grateful to be rescued by the sergeant, avoiding a great tragedy during their holiday.
60th Force Support Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jason Christie, appreciated Tala's heroic feat and remarked, "Sergeant Tala and Yvett's quick action and courage are a direct reflection of our Core Value of Service Before Self."