Boston Photog Helps Rescue Crash Victim *
A dramatic rescue unfolded on Tuesday evening on I-93 when several individuals, including an intrepid WCVB-TV photographer, sprang into action to save a driver mere moments before her vehicle became engulfed in flames. The heroic efforts of these Good Samaritans have been commended by local authorities and witnesses alike.
At approximately 6:20 p.m., New Hampshire State Police received numerous reports of a motor vehicle crash on I-93 northbound near mile marker 17 in Manchester. Responding troopers were met with a harrowing sight—a single-car crash in the median of the highway, already ablaze. Fortunately, the quick actions of bystanders prevented a potential tragedy.
Among those who rushed to the scene was Spencer Quartarone, a construction worker who recounted the heart-pounding incident to WCVB. Quartarone wasted no time, grabbing his hammer and shattering the vehicle's window. "They couldn't get the door open, I guess. I just reacted and pulled her out," he explained. His courageous act played a crucial role in saving the driver's life.
However, the heroics did not stop there. WCVB Channel 5 photographer Ted Cooper and reporter Sharman Sacchetti were fortuitously passing through Manchester when they noticed the fiery crash. Without hesitation, Cooper leaped into action, joining forces with other Good Samaritans to carry the disoriented driver to safety, away from the rapidly approaching inferno.
The driver, identified as a 38-year-old woman from Manchester, New Hampshire, had been operating an SUV when it veered off the road and collided with a tree in the median. New Hampshire State Police reported that the impact was so severe that the vehicle's engine was forcefully ejected, coming to rest approximately 30 feet away before the SUV burst into flames.
First responders swiftly arrived at the scene and transported the driver to a nearby hospital. While her injuries were serious, they were thankfully not life-threatening. The precise cause of the crash is still under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest that speed may have played a significant role.
The courageous actions of Spencer Quartarone, the construction worker who fearlessly smashed the window, and Ted Cooper, the WCVB photographer who selflessly rushed to the driver's aid, have been applauded by the local community.