Jennifer Maldonado and Aimee Baker opened the doors of their vehicle after the collision on U.S. 98 set off their air bag; however, they spotted the silhouette of a thrashing tail from underneath and immediately retreated back inside and called 911, The Tampa Tribune reported Saturday.

"It was grunting and roaring and shaking the whole truck," Maldonado said. "I was hysterical."

In fact, it took emergency crews a half an hour to arrive and coax the terrified women out of the truck and off the injured reptile. The crabby creature snapped at the tires and then attempted to cross the road. It was captured a short time later by a gator trapper.

"It was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my whole life," Baker said.