Off-Duty N.Y. Firefighter Saves Motorist From Wreck

An “off-duty” Williamsville firefighter may have saved the life of an 85-year-old woman Tuesday morning in Cheektowaga.

Harold Haffa, an assistant chief with the Williamsville Fire Department, was leaving the parking lot of Basil Ford on Walden Avenue at 10:45 a.m., when he came upon the scene of a one-car accident.

Haffa, who works as a driver for Alside Building Supply in Cheektowaga, was dropping off a company truck for service at Basil Ford when he saw a car had driven up on the grass across the street and struck a sign pole.

“We saw the tires were still spinning, and there was a lot of smoke,” Haffa said.

The 15-year firefighter ran over to the car and checked on the driver, identified by Cheektowaga police as Alice Zagara of Cheektowaga. The woman was unresponsive and had a slight pulse.

Haffa ran back to his assistant chief’s truck, grabbed his bag and defibrillator and sprinted back to the car. This time, he couldn’t find a pulse.

Haffa removed the woman from the car, placed her on the sidewalk and began CPR. He continued for about a minute and a half until responders from Rural/Metro Ambulance Service and the Rescue Fire Company arrived. Together, they loaded the driver onto a backboard and placed her in the back of the ambulance.

She was taken to the Erie County Medical Center.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Zagara was listed as in an induced coma at ECMC.

“He probably saved her life, since he was right there to begin CPR immediately,” said Rescue Fire Chief Richard Chojnacki.

According to Chojnacki and Cheektowaga Police Capt. James Speyer, the woman was believed to have suffered a heart attack while driving and veered off the road.

“It was a good thing she hit the pole,” Haffa said. “Otherwise, she would have hit the plaza building.”

Haffa said he does not consider himself a hero. He insists he was just in the right place at the right time and trained to aid in such situations.

“This something I have been doing for a long time,” he said. “It’s fortunate that I’m trained to help people. If I can save someone, it makes all those years of training worthwhile.”

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