This Is The California 200 Victim Who Saved His Daughter's Life

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Andrew Therrien was one of the first spectators killed by an off-road truck during Saturday's California 200 disaster, but before he died the single father pushed three people to safety, including his 3-year old daughter.

When Andrew Therrien traveled with his daughter and friends to the Mojave Desert for the California 200 it was to enjoy a sport he'd followed for years. The 22-year-old single father couldn't have known the event would be his last.

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According to witnesses, the approaching off-road Ford Ranger driven by Brett Sloppy crested the jump over the rock pile section and lost control, barreling towards Therrien.

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"The truck bounced right in the air and smacked Andrew right down, and went straight in the air and smacked everybody down, and I just saw bodies flying," said friend Amanda Jones.

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Just seconds before the truck collided with Therrien he was able to shove his daughter Kaylin, his girlfriend Nikky Cariola, and a friend's 7-year old son.

"I owe my son's life, as well as many others - including his daughter - they were inches away from him and he had to have saved their lives. He's a hero in my book," said Derek Cox, father of the 7-year-old.

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Therrien's daughter Kaylin apparently saw her father get crushed after he pushed her away.

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"I'm just hoping that she's really young, she's only three, that she not going to remember when she's older. I don't want her to remember that," said Jones, who also posted the pictures and tribute to Therrien on the Race-Dezert forum:

Like so many others, Therrien picked the wrong place to watch the race with his family, but his last decision was the right one: to save as many people around him as possible.

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[KABC]