Woman rescued from car fire on I-95 in Dedham

DEDHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- A woman was rescued from a car fire on I-95 South in Dedham Wednesday evening.

Police said a New Bedford woman was on the highway when the back of her car started smoking and went up in flames soon after.

“I ran up with a fire extinguisher and then the flames come out around the tires and I just shot the fire extinguisher underneath the rear of the car. And then I knocked down the flames, I opened the door and she was just disoriented. She wanted to get her stuff. It was like, ‘we gotta go,’” said Leo Podolske.

Podolske said he first noticed heavy smoke pouring out from the car. He didn’t hesitate to jump in and pull the female driver out to safety.

“I was lucky I was there, that’s all,” said Podolske said.

“I was starting to cut in between lanes because I knew this car was gonna go. I just knew it. It was just too intense,” said Luke Tripp.

Tripp did his part to stop traffic and tried dousing the flames with a fire extinguisher.

“First reaction was just to get out of the car. There was one car in the way so I just blocked him off and we were yelling to her, ‘get out of the car, get out of the car,’” Tripp said.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Both men said the driver seemed confused and unaware of the immediate danger.

“I don’t think she knew her car was on fire. I think she knew she had smoke but that was it,” said Podolske.

State police were able to assist with the rescue within 30 seconds.