POLK COUNTY, Iowa -- Two Minnesota roofers told their story Thursday of pulling a pregnant woman to safety after her minivan caught fire along Interstate 80 after a crash.

Jason Weismann and Sean Tierney said the fire is a moment in life that they will never forget.

"I just looked up and I said, 'God just give me a minute, just give me a minute and a half, just let me get her out of here," said

The smoke from Wednesday's crash involving a semi and a van could be seen miles away. Many people saw the crash and stopped to watch, but only a few jumped into action.

"All you could see was flames and smoke and this poor lady was screaming please help get me out of here, please, please don't leave me," said Weismann.

The two roofers had been driving eastbound when they came upon the fire in the westbound lanes.

"All you could see was flames and smoke and this poor lady was screaming 'please help get me out of here, please, please don't leave me,'" said Weismann.

Weismann said he was determined to help.

"Either I'm pulling her out of this car, and we're both walking away or neither of us are walking away," said Weismann.

But there was a problem; the burning van was pinned between the truck and the median. The only way out was through the vans back broken window, and the woman was pregnant.

"If this was my daughter in here, if this was my girlfriend in here, you have to find a way, there's just got to be a way, there's just got to be," said Weismann.

Weismann eventually did find a way, which helped to inspire Tierney who was working to get the dazed semi driver out of the burning cab.

"I looked to my back and Jason was pulling her out, and that really just got me excited then immediately I just get a rush that kind of overwhelmed me like, oh my god we're pulling this off. I can't believe this because there is no way in hell I thought anybody was going to live through this," said Tierney.

Weismann said he had help from above.

"I think God helped me, God did this," said Weismann.

The woman in the minivan, Jamie Handlos, 24, was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. She was listed in serious condition on Thursday.

Weismann said he had a chance to visit with Handlos on Thursday, and he said her baby is OK.

The driver of the semi, Betty Jean Huntsman, 73, of Brady, Neb., was taken to Mercy Medical Center. Her condition is not available.