Passer-by saves woman in M6 blaze

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7616282.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A passing motorist has "undoubtedly saved the life" of a woman trapped in a burning car on the M6 in Lancashire.

Steven Wilson, 32, from Dumfries, was at the scene of a three-car crash near Charnock Richard services at about 1450 BST on Sunday.

Police said he bent the driver's door frame of the car - which was already in flames - in order to rescue the woman.

Mr Wilson said: "I don't see myself as a hero or anything like that. I am just glad it worked out well."

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Constabulary confirmed the accident had happened after the woman's Rover 25 was in collision with a Peugeot 405 which was towing another car.

It maybe took 10 or 15 seconds for the car from start to finish to be in a complete ball of flames Steven Wilson

The Rover then hit the central reservation before spinning back into the carriageway where it collided with a Renault Clio.

Mr Wilson said he did not hesitate to intervene to save the female driver who is in her 50s and from Lancashire.

"I saw a trail of liquid coming from the Rover which caught fire instantly and the whole left hand side of the car went up in a ball of flames," he said.

"I watched for traffic and then ran over the road.

"I couldn't get to her from the passenger side because it was engulfed in flames."

He then ran round to the driver's side where he was faced by another problem caused by the crash.

The accident took place on the M6 on Sunday afternoon

"It had had an impact on the driver's door on the middle of it which had jammed the door shut," he said.

"Because of the dent the lady could not get the window down or anything.

"I put my hands into the top of the window frame and sort of bent it back and pulled her out of the car."

By that point the car was completely engulfed by the fire.

"I couldn't believe the speed the car went up in flames," said Mr Wilson.

"As soon as I got her back to the safety of the hard shoulder the car was completely alight.

"It maybe took 10 or 15 seconds for the car from start to finish to be in a complete ball of flames."

'Burned alive'

The rescuer said that it was only just beginning to sink in what he had done.

"I have been told by the police and fire service that she would have been burned alive," he said.

"I didn't have much time to think at the time I just knew there was someone in that car.

"There was no other way for the woman to get out of the car - that was the only option, get her out of that door."

He said he realised he had to get her out by "any means possible".

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Constabulary praised Mr Wilson for his efforts.

"His actions have undoubtedly saved the driver's life," she said.