Good Samaritans Save Driver From Beverly Route 128 Car Fire

BEVERLY, MA — An off-duty Manchester by the Sea paramedic and firefighter was among those who jumped into action in helping a driver on Route 128 escape a fiery vehicle crash on Thursday morning.

Beverly fire, police and Northeast Regional Ambulance responded to the crash on Route 128 North just before the Essex Street exit at about 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and found the vehicle had hit a tree and was engulfed with heavy fire in the engine and passenger compartments. Beverly fire said it was determined the driver had been removed from the vehicle by good samaritans before first responders arrived.

Manchester by the Sea paramedic and firefighter Shane Stephenson was tending to the driver when fire crews arrived.

"Crews quickly extinguished the car fire and stood by for the removal of the vehicle," Beverly fire said. "The patient was transported by NERA to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

"A very special thanks to the folks that put themselves in harm's way in a desperate effort to save a young man's life. Without their heroic actions, this would have been a far greater tragedy."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)