An off-duty police officer and an off-duty firefighter in New York are being hailed for their volunteer rescue efforts after a serious motor vehicle collision on the Long Island Expressway. Car accidents sometimes involve sudden, unexpected fires, as this one did. The crash occurred on a recent Wednesday morning, and witnesses say the two off-duty workers were like guardian angels who appeared just in time to come to the aid of those involved.
The situation unfolded when a sports utility vehicle and a commercial truck collided. The off-duty patrolman and firefighter just happened to approach the scene in their own vehicles moments later. The firefighter said he immediately noticed a small engine fire in the sports utility vehicle that was quickly beginning to grow.
At the time, a 36-year-old woman was trapped inside the burning vehicle. The two men combined efforts to rescue her. One of them managed to unbuckle her seat restraint and both cooperated in pulling her to safety through the passenger window of her car.
The woman and the person in the truck were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries. The woman’s family has expressed gratitude to the men who saved her life. Recovery following car accidents is often wrought with challenges of all kinds. Beyond those that are physical in nature, recovering victims often face undue financial hardships as well. In a situation where a motorist’s negligence has caused injury to another, the person injured may seek restitution by filing a personal injury claim in a New York civil court.
Source: abc7ny.com, “Suffolk County police officer, firefighter rescue woman after fiery crash on LIE“, Kristin Thorne, Feb. 1, 2017
