Heroic Highway Rescue: Good Samaritans Save Man from Burning Car

Quick Smiles:

• A group of good Samaritans and highway rescue personnel heroically rescued a man from a burning car on I-94 in Minnesota.
• The brave rescuers were unable to open the car doors due to a highway guardrail, but a member of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Freeway Incident Response Safety Team managed to smash the window and pull the man to safety.
• The rescued man, 71-year-old Sam Orbovich, expressed his gratitude to the brave individuals who risked their lives to save his, stating, “I am alive today because several good Samaritans and professional first responders saved my life.”

On an ordinary day on I-94 in Minnesota, a remarkable event unfolded. A group of good Samaritans and highway rescue personnel came together in a heroic effort to save a stranger trapped unconscious inside a burning car.

Dash camera footage captured the intense scene. It showed around 5 or 6 people pulling over and rushing out of their cars after an SUV veered off the highway and burst into flames.

Despite their collective efforts, they were unable to open the car doors as the flames grew. However, a member of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Freeway Incident Response Safety Team—formerly known as the Highway Helper—arrived just in time to shatter the window glass and pull the man out to safety.

The man at the center of this dramatic rescue was 71-year-old Sam Orbovich, who had lost consciousness behind the wheel of his Honda. When he regained consciousness, the Highway Helper had already shattered the glass.

“I am alive today because several good Samaritans and professional first responders saved my life,” Orbovich said of the incident that took place on Thursday night.

He added, “It is incredibly heroic when people driving down the highway choose to put themselves at risk by running toward the flames to extract a stranger from a burning car that could explode at any moment.”

The car doors were unlocked, but a highway guardrail blocked them from opening. The team’s efforts to bend the rail far enough away from the doors were unsuccessful, as were attempts to extinguish the fire and break the window.

Despite the harrowing ordeal, Orbovich only suffered minor injuries. The footage of the daring rescue has since gone viral.

“The State Patrol is grateful that the driver is OK due to the heroic actions of the individuals who stopped to help,” Lt. Jill Frankfurth said.

She continued, “The actions of those who pulled this motorist from the burning car demonstrates the importance and willingness of people throughout Minnesota looking out for each other. We are thankful everyone remained safe.”

This dramatic dash cam footage serves as a testament to the bravery and kindness of strangers willing to risk their lives to save another. It’s a shining example of Minnesota’s spirit of community and mutual aid.

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