CHALMETTE, La. (CNN Newsource/WVUE-DT/WKRC) — An off-duty firefighter helped rescue a woman after a crash involving her vehicle and an 18-wheeler on I-10 near the Mississippi state line on Saturday.
Video footage captured Andrew Nixon, a firefighter with the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department, rushing to aid the driver whose car had ignited following the collision. Nixon and his fiancée were returning from a wedding when they witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
“He saw flames coming from her tires,” authorities reported. Nixon approached the vehicle and attempted to speak to the driver, but she did not respond. Realizing the urgency of the situation, he broke through the windshield and pulled her to safety just moments before the vehicle was fully engulfed.
Saint Tammany Fire Protection District One responded to extinguish the fire and confirmed that Nixon's actions were crucial for the driver's survival. Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann stated, “His instincts took over… he was her last chance.”
The driver was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is recovering from her injuries. Nixon sustained minor cuts to his hand and is expected to make a full recovery.
In a poignant reflection, Nixon mentioned feeling the presence of his late niece, Everleigh, during the rescue, expressing gratitude for being able to save another life.