BURLINGTON, W.Va. — Fire department officials say bystanders rescued the driver of a vehicle that overturned and caught fire Tuesday morning on U.S. Route 50 in Mineral County.
New Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dustin Amtower said that based off information the Mineral County 911 Center received, an ambulance was dispatched just before 6:30 a.m.
“Our ambulance had just returned to the station from a call and responded,” Amtower said.
Amtower said the crash was reported as a rollover and the vehicle was on fire just west of Dry Run Road on Northwestern Turnpike.
Tommy Simpson, assistant chief at Fountain Volunteer Fire Department, lives near where the crash occurred.
“I was getting ready to go to work. Based on the dispatched information, I just went to the scene,” Simpson said. “They (dispatched) the crash with fire.”
Simpson said he thought it was best if he just went to the scene to try to help anyone trapped in the vehicle.
“When I arrived on the scene, bystanders had already helped the driver out of the vehicle,” Simpson said. “She was sitting in a passenger vehicle that was following behind her when the wreck happened.”
Simpson said bystanders were able to help her out a rear, driver-side door.
“Some fire had started when the bystanders were trying to get her out,” Simpson said. “The bystanders had used a couple bottles of water to try and put the fire out.”
As other bystanders arrived, fire extinguishers were used to “knock the fire down,” Simpson said.
“We weren’t able to get the fire out all the way. The vehicle was well involved when New Creek and Burlington arrived,” Simpson said.
Units from New Creek and Burlington volunteer fire departments responded to the incident and remained on the scene for about 45 minutes, according to Amtower.
The woman refused medical care, Amtower said.
The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
In a social media post Tuesday, Amtower said they have identified one of the bystanders that assisted in getting the woman out of the vehicle, but would like to make contact with two other men who helped.
“These individuals put themselves in harm’s way to save a total stranger. We would love to show our appreciation to them for their efforts,” the fire department post said. “If you were one of the folks who helped or if you know them, please reach out to us.”