The horrific crash was captured on video early Wednesday morning.
One person was killed and four others were injured, including Christopher Le. He was thrown from his motorcycle after hitting a wrecked car head-on.
David Pride of San Bernardino, who caught the entire collision on camera and helped rescue Le, thought for sure he was dead, but then he saw him move.
Video shows harrowing rescue on 91 Freeway after fiery crash kills 1, injures 4 in Riverside
"I'm like, 'He's not hit,' because he would have been squashed like a bug," Pride told Eyewitness News.
The video shows cars and trucks missing Le by inches, and he says he owes Pride his life.
"I just really want to thank you for doing what you did out there, putting your life on the line, pulling me out of the road," he said as a message to Pride. "I really appreciate it."
The two men have not yet met in person but they are planning to as soon as Le is ready.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.