CT Firefighters Rescue Occupant Before Car Catches Fire

June 8, 2020

Shortly after Westport firefighters extricated an occupant following a rollover crash, the vehicle the individual was in "began to smoke and subsequently caught fire," the department said.

By Jim Shay

Source Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, Conn.

Westport, CT, firefighters extricated a trapped occupant before the car the person was in caught fire late Sunday.

WESTPORT, CT—One person who was trapped in a vehicle that rolled over on the southbound Merritt Parkway was extricated by firefighters Sunday night.

A second occupant in the vehicle was able to climb out of the vehicle before first responders arrived.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. just near Exit 42.

Assistant Chief Matthew Cohen said “the first arriving fire unit reported a single vehicle on its roof in the left lane just south of Exit 42. Fire personnel checked the vehicle and confirmed that a single occupant was trapped in the vehicle.

“Westport Fire deployed a protective hose line and began to setup for extrication. Fire units assessed the patient while access to the vehicle was made,” Cohen said in a release.

“Fire units used stabilization tools and a combination of spreaders and cutters to remove the vehicles doors. The patient was removed from the vehicle extrication and was turned over to Westport EMS for care.

“Once extrication was complete, the vehicle began to smoke and subsequently caught fire. Fire personnel extinguished the fire, which was isolated to the engine compartment.”

Two patients were transported to the hospital and the State Police is conducting the investigation.

The highway was shut down for approximately one hour until the vehicle could be removed.

According to the accident report, the vehicle that rolled over was a 2009 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was driven by Jose Luis Cruz-Flores, 37, of Bridgeport.

The Altima was traveling southbound in the right lane “when it moved into the left lane striking the concrete jersey barrier,” the accident report said. “then came back into the right lane and struck the wooden beam guardrail in the right where it rolled over on its roof coming to final rest in the left lane.”

Cruz-Flores had a “suspected minor injury.” A 41-year-old Bridgeport woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, has a “possible injury.”

Cruz-Flores was given a infraction ticket for failure to drive in an established lane.

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