Off-duty EMT saves man's life on Neponset Bridge

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- An off-duty EMT saved a man's life on Saturday after a crash.

Cataldo EMT Ben Foley was on the Neponset Bridge headed to a Christmas party Saturday night.

"I was just coming over the top. I was in the middle lane and a small black Jetta rear-ended a Ford Expedition," Foley said.

Foley says he pulled over to help. He told our Crystal Haynes that the driver of the SUV got out, but the man in the Jetta did not.

"As I was walking out to the car, the car was on fire," he said.

The fire started with 2-foot flames and Foley tried to encourage him to get out of the car.

"I was like, c'mon man you gotta get up. We gotta get out of here. Your car's on fire," he said. "And by that point, the entire cabin of the car was filled with smoke."

Foley says he got the man, who was drifting in and out of consciousness out of the car with the help of whom he believes was the driver of the SUV. But they weren't out of danger yet.

"We sat him down and then the flames got to like 6 feet. We're like we really have to move this guy in case this thing explodes."

Luckily, it didn't, and the State Police and other EMTs arrived on scene to help.

When asked if he was scared at any point, Foley said, "No. I mean I saw the fire and I was like this isn't good."

Foley has worked his share of life-and-death cases. He was one of the first responders in downtown Boston in the aftermath of the marathon bombings.

When asked if he felt he was a hero for his bravery on the Neponset Bridge Saturday, Foley said, "I don't think I saved his life, probably. I don't know." He went on to say he was happy he was there, and that afterward he went to Christmas party and "bragged about it."

Cox Media Group