A 78-year-old man is rescued from his burning car after a three-vehicle collision in Easton, Massachusetts on the morning of February 27. The heroic actions of two bystanders and a local police officer saved the man’s life in a dramatic rescue.
Patrol Officer Dean Soucy responded to a call about a three-vehicle collision on Route 138 at approximately 2:30 p.m. The crash involved a 1993 Mack dump truck, a 2013 Ford F-350, and a 2024 Toyota Camry. The truck was stopped at the side of the southbound lane, and the F-350 collided with its rear, trapping its driver inside. Moments later, the Toyota Camry collided with the Ford and burst into flames.
Two quick-thinking spectators, Ryan Mendes and his brother, immediately sprang into action. They removed the gasoline cans from the bed of the pickup truck before Susie arrived at the scene. Mendes also used a fire extinguisher in an attempt to control the flames. According to Boston 25, Officer Soucy said, “There was a five-gallon gasoline tank in the back of the pickup truck that they grabbed and removed before I even got to the scene.”
When officers arrived at Susi, they found both vehicles engulfed in flames and the brothers alerted them to the presence of an elderly man trapped in a Toyota Camry. In the tense moment, Susie approached the car and asked the man if he could let her out, as body camera footage shows. Along with Mendes and her brother, Susie managed to break the driver’s side window of the car and get the man to safety.
The seriously injured elderly man was immediately taken to a local hospital. Fortunately, the driver of the Toyota Camry managed to escape from the vehicle without any injuries. Mendes, who assisted Susie in rescuing the man, politely told Boston 25, “We were just doing what anyone would do naturally.”
Easton Police Chief Keith Boone praised Mendes’ actions, saying, “There’s no doubt he saved his life last night.” He added, “I think he’s a hero. He wouldn’t let me say that.”
Authorities closed Route 138 for several hours during the investigation. Easton Police Department detectives and the patrol division are investigating the cause of the crash.
Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of the Mendes brothers and Officer Soucy, a potentially deadly situation was turned into a successful rescue, highlighting the importance of quick action in times of crisis.