Manchester Teacher Pulls Driver — And His Wheelchair — From Fiery Van

MANCHESTER, CT — A teacher at Illing Middle School in Manchester is being hailed as a hero after saving a man in a mobility-limited van when the vehicle caught fire on an Interstate 384 ramp.

The incident took place Thursday afternoon.

A man who uses a wheelchair was heading east in a specially equipped van when the fuel tank suddenly ruptured, officials from Manchester Fire Rescue EMS said. The man smelled smoke, noticed flames coming out from the dashboard behind a cup holder, and was able to pull over near the Main Street interchange, fire officials said.

When firefighters arrived, they found the van engulfed in flames, but the driver had been pulled to safety, thanks to Illing teacher Heather Sica Leonard.

Leonard, who was on the ramp at the same time, stopped her vehicle, exited it quickly and helped the man out of the van, while also grabbing his wheelchair, fire officials said. The two were able to safely get away from the flames, fire officials said.

Fire crews extinguished the flames and a crew from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection cleaned up the fuel spill.

Fire officials said of Leonard, "She immediately stopped, approached the burning vehicle and selflessly got (the driver) and his wheelchair out of the car and moved him to safety, all at great personal risk to injury. Her actions averted an almost certain fatal outcome and prevented anyone from being injured."

Manchester Fire Chief Daniel French said though it is too soon to say how, he promised Leonard's deed "will not go unnoticed."

French added, "I've seen it a couple of times in my career — when a citizen puts himself or herself in harm's way to save someone else, but it's certainly not something you see every day. It shows the best side of humanity."