Monroe man pulls driver from sedan before it bursts into flames

MONROE, CT — Sean Wollenberg learned of a motor vehicle crash on Purdy Hill Road, near his Teller Road home, Saturday night and saved the life of one driver moments later, pulling him out of his sedan and helping him to safety just before the vehicle burst into flames.

“My wife heard the accident happened and we both ran outside and saw the car up against the bush and stonewall,” Wollenberg told The Sun Sunday. “One of the first people on scene was trying to pull the driver door open.”

But he said damage from the accident jammed both side doors shut.

“As we got closer, we could see the flames starting underneath the car in the front and the driver was screaming for help,” Wollenberg said. “He had managed to get the top half of his body out of the rear passenger side door and I was able to assist in getting him the rest of the way out and off of the ground — right before the flames overtook the rest of the car. It was a scary sight, but I’m glad both drivers are okay.”

Police Lt. Kevin McKellick said the driver, who lives in Trumbull, was treated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service volunteers and taken to the hospital following the two-vehicle-crash, reported around 7:15 p.m.

The driver of the other vehicle, a Subaru Forester, who lives in Bridgeport, was not hospitalized.

The driver of the sedan was found to be at fault in the two-vehicle-crash and both of the damaged vehicles were towed, according to McKellick.

That is all of the information police could release at this time.

A Facebook post on the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department’s page said Monroe firefighters extinguished the car fire, as well as the resulting brush fire it caused.

“We are very grateful that a Good Samaritan neighbor helped remove the driver away from the burning vehicle prior to first responders arriving,” the post says. “Neither driver reported injuries, but one was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Monroe police are investigating the cause.”

“Anytime we receive a report of a vehicle crash involving fire with an occupant still inside, we expect the worst,” Monroe Fire Chief Kevin Catalano told The Sun Sunday. “But in this case it was a very fortunate outcome thanks to the quick-thinking and heroic actions of Mr. Wollenberg.”

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