Heroic rescue: Off-duty firefighter, bystanders save victims from burning I‑495 crash

I'm Boston 25's Amal Al-Halm on scene at the Ashland Fire Department after speaking with a firefighter who was off-duty when he and several others helped rescue two people trapped inside of a car that had rolled over and caught fire. Dramatic video shows the moments an off-duty Ashland firefighter and several bystanders rushed to help after a fiery rollover crash on I-495 in Plainville. I don't even remember doing it, but at the time it was, I have to get these people out. David Iarussi said he and his wife were heading home from a wedding in Rhode Island Sunday afternoon when they came upon this scene, an electric vehicle on its side and on fire. I know how fast these cars can burn up, so my mindset was, I've got to get them out. The 63-year-old can be seen using a rock to smash the windshield as several others come to help, some kicking at the sunroof using a fire extinguisher trying to break it open. There was a small hole that I was able to get up in and look. The driver was in front of me and then I looked up, the woman was pointing because she was upside down and she was basically telling me she couldn't breathe. I don't ever want to move anybody, but the fire changed everything. During that effort, Iarussi says bystanders were on the back side keeping tabs on the fire as you see white smoke from the fire extinguishers billowing in the background. They were doing their best to keep this fire at bay, I mean I could hear them, you know at one point somebody's yelling that the cell's about to explode and then some little bird in the background's yelling at me to get away and that was my wife. Not long after, Iarussi pulled out the first occupant before rescuing the second. Authorities say both victims suffered serious injuries and are now recovering at a hospital in Rhode Island. I feel great and I hope someday I'll hear that the two victims are doing well. The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation. On scene in Ashland, Amal Al-Halb, for your local station, Boston 25 News.