Good Samaritan Dodges Live Wires To Save Person In Burning Car

By Cleve Bryan

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., (CBS) -- Vincent Bronson says he was as shocked as anyone on Saturday to see a driver trapped in a car cased in live wires and a downed transformer.

Mount Laurel Police say a 59-year-old woman veered off the road and slammed into a utility pole around 3:30 p.m. on S. Church Street across from the Clover Garden Center.

The loud buzz of high voltage electricity warned that approaching the vehicle could be suicide, yet Bronson sensed the unconscious woman at the wheel didn't have much time.

"Something told me just to go. I said to myself I'm not going to see a lady die in front of me. Everybody else was just standing around so I just took off to the car," says Bronson who was at Clover loading Christmas tree on customer's cars.

He weaved through the wires and dodged sparks before ripping off the unconscious woman's seat belt and helping her to safety.

Garden Center owner Bobby Brandimarte directed traffic until police and paramedics arrived.

He says he's amazing by his longtime friend.

"Knowing Vincent he's a little crazy but I'll tell you what he did a hell of a job. He's the hero here," says Brandimarte.

Police will not release the driver's name but say she was taken to Cooper University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

They say cause of the accident is still under investigation but the woman will not be charged.