A driver who veered off Interstate 75, crashed into a tree, and became trapped in a burning vehicle on Monday morning, was rescued by an off-duty Marion County Fire Rescue paramedic who was en route to work.
Marion County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to reports of a motor vehicle collision near Exit 341 on Interstate 75 at around 7:09 a.m. on Monday, December 30.
According to a statement from MCFR, a sedan veered off the northbound lanes of the roadway before it struck a tree and burst into flames.
Multiple 911 callers reported that the driver was trapped inside the burning vehicle.
Shortly after the accident, off-duty MCFR Critical Care Paramedic Stephen Cabrera, who was on his way to work, saw the incident and pulled over to assist the driver.
Another citizen smashed the window of the vehicle and Cabrera opened the vehicle’s door, cut the airbags and seatbelt, and pulled the driver to safety.
Cabrera providing life-saving care until Marion Oaks Station #24 paramedics arrived.
Multiple units arrived at the scene at approximately 7:17 a.m. and found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and were able to take it under control by 7:22 a.m.
The patient was stabilized and transported to a local trauma hospital as a trauma alert. No additional details were provided regarding the condition of the driver.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the cause of the accident is still under investigation.