Manchester Teacher Who Saved Man From Van Fire Now Wants To Replace It

MANCHESTER, CT — First, a teacher at Illing Middle School in Manchester saved a man from a burning special needs van on an Interstate 384 ramp. Now, she wants to help replace the van.

Heather Sica Leonard said she just wants the story to stay positive.

Here's what she said in setting up a Go-Fund-Me site for the endeavor:

"Hi ... my name is Heather Sica-Leonard. I am the Middle School Music teacher that helped my new friend John escape his van when it caught fire. As a proud veteran, John appreciates his independence but also his privacy. On behalf of his family and to respect his name and privacy, I am starting this Go-Fund-Me that will be given directly to John to help replace his van to give him his independence as he uses a wheel chair for mobility due to a spinal cord injury. He is a very humble man who took this incident with great stride and I am honored I was there to help him and would love to support him regain his independence."

See the Go-Fund-Me site here.

As of Thursday evening, $8,371 had been raised out of a goal of $75,000. The top donation was $201.

The incident took place Feb. 23. The man was heading east on Interstate 384 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 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."