Heroes of the Week: Good Samaritans Save Driver Before Crashed Car Catches Fire

How many times have you driven by a car accident and wondered if you could have helped or save someone? Some people in New Hampshire stopped to help a woman whose car crashed, and saved her before it burst into flames. Here's the story of those heroes. 

(Photos: On Tuesday, June 20, 2023,an Audi Q5 crossover crashed on Interstate 93 and caught on fire. Good Samaritans, including two off-duty firefighters, helped save the driver. (New Hampshire State Police)

Good Samaritans Save Driver Before Crossover Catches On Fire

Tony Schinella, Portsmouth, NH Patch Staff, Sun, Jun 25, 2023

CONCORD, NH — Good Samaritans, including two off-duty firefighters, helped save a woman from a car after it crashed into a tree on Interstate 93 and caught on fire on Tuesday. June 20, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Around 6:15 p.m., state police received numerous calls about the crash on the northbound side of the highway near Mile Marker 17. When they arrived, they found a 2021 Audi Q5, crashed in the median, and engulfed in flames.

“Troopers also observed that numerous good Samaritans pulled over to offer assistance, including two off-duty firefighters,” Amber Lagace, the public information officer for the department, said.” The firefighters, assisted by civilians who had stopped, had extricated the operator, the only occupant from the vehicle before the passenger compartment caught fire.”

The impact was so severe the vehicle’s engine was thrown from the crossover and came to a rest about 30 feet from the vehicle.

The driver, Natasha Maunsell, 38, of Manchester was taken to Elliot Hospital with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates that speed was a factor. However, all aspects of the crash remain under investigation. State police were assisted by Manchester and Londonderry firefighters.