MANCHESTER, N.H. --
A former volunteer firefighter and EMT helped a girl and her grandfather to safety after their car crashed into a Manchester gas station, knocking over a pump and sending flames shooting into the air.
Rescuers said a man was driving down Webster Street at the corner of Elm Street on Monday morning when he crashed into the gas station. Rebecca Grosso, a former volunteer firefighter for the town of New Boston saw the crash from her office on Webster Street.
"I was working with a client," Grosso said. "I looked out the window and saw a ball of fire. The car had actually crashed into the pump."
Grosso ran to the gas station to see how she could help.
"I attempted to get the gentleman out. I think he was unconscious," she said. "I went around the other side and got the little girl out. The flames were coming from the engine, and it was going towards the driver's side."
The driver of the car and the girl were pulled to safety, and a woman from a nearby business ran across the street to alert local firefighters, who were at the scene within minutes.
"Fortunately, there are remote shutoffs right by the cash register of the gas station," said Capt. Hank Martineau. "They were able to shut the fuel off remotely, and we were able to control the fire pretty quickly."
Fire officials said they believe the driver of the car blacked out behind the wheel.
"We think it might have been caused by a medical problem," Martineau said. "He kind of blacked out and lost control of his vehicle."
Grosso said she's grateful that everyone made it out safely and that she was able to help out.
"I just had a little thank you to God that I was there to help," she said.
The man and his granddaughter are expected to be OK, officials said. The gas station will be closed for the next couple of days.
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