‘The best of humanity’: Strangers rush to save driver in fiery Henrico crash
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — About 10 people rushed to help a driver trapped in a burning car after he crashed into a tree off Interstate 295 in Henrico County on Friday.
Virginia State Police said the single-vehicle crash happened around 5:40 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, when Quavelle Montgomery veered off the highway near Mill Road and hit a tree. Investigators said he may have suffered a medical emergency or fallen asleep at the wheel.
Susie Gorman was the first to pull over after seeing the burning Nissan Altima.
"It was a little bit of a hike back there, and I waved my arms, trying to get other motorists to see, and they started pulling over," she said.
Gorman said bystanders worked together to get the driver out.
"Everybody was doing everything, pounding out every window they could," she said. "The guys were literally using their fists to break the windows."
Bystanders work together to rescue a man from a fiery wreck on I-295 in Henrico on Sept. 12. (Photo: Susie Gorman)
Bystanders work together to rescue a man from a fiery wreck on I-295 in Henrico on Sept. 12. (Photo: Susie Gorman)
Witnesses worked to control the flames before emergency responders arrived, she said.
"Other guys showed up with those fire extinguishers," Gorman said. "By the time the fire department had shown up, it would have been too late. The whole vehicle would have been engulfed."
Police said Montgomery was rescued and taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but Gorman said she later heard from his sister.
"She said that she so appreciated everything and it just touched my heart so much," Gorman said. "And then she said, unfortunately, he passed away Monday."
Even in the face of such tragic news, Gorman spoke for all of those involved in pulling Montgomery from that car when she said she would do it again.
"Not one person -- not one person left [Montgomery,]" she said. "All of those people stayed and kept trying to help him. It was just the best of humanity."
Authorities continue to investigate the crash and are asking anyone who may have more information to come forward.
