Volunteer Firefighter Rescues Trapped Driver From a Car Engulfed in Flames: North Haven Fire

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A South Windsor volunteer firefighter is being credited with saving a life as he came upon a car engulfed in flames, used a tire jack to break a window and remove the trapped driver from the vehicle, top fire officials said.

North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said that the North Haven Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle crash early this morning on Route 15.

Around 6:30 a.m., North Haven Fire was dispatched to Route 15 northbound, in the area of exit 63, on a report that a car had crashed into a tree and was on fire with people trapped inside, officials said in a news release. The department received multiple 911 calls on the incident.

Initial crews on scene found the car engulfed in flames, with both male occupants out of the vehicle, officials said.

Just prior to North Haven's arrival, a volunteer firefighter from South Windsor was traveling on the south side of Route 15 and stopped when he saw a car on fire, officials said.

The volunteer firefighter found one individual, the passenger, out of the vehicle with the driver trapped inside, officials said. He was able to utilize a tire jack to break the window and pull the driver out of the car to safety, according to a news release.

North Haven firefighters treated both occupants on scene and assisted with transporting the driver, who suffered serious injuries, to Yale New Haven Hospital. The passenger suffered minor injuries.

"We're extremely grateful to the volunteer firefighter who stopped to assist with this serious car crash," Chief Januszewski said in a statement. "His quick actions saved a person's life. I commend his actions and the work by North Haven firefighters this morning."

The crash is under investigation by the Connecticut State Police.