Massachusetts National Guard Soldier Saves Woman from Car Fire

Photo By Sgt. Tricia Andriski | Spc. Ryan Leger, a generator mechanic of the 110th Maintenance Company, Massachusetts National Guard, saves woman from car fire at the North Dike Wachusett Reservoir in Sterling, Mass., Nov. 7, 2021. (Massachusetts National Guard Photo by Sgt. Tricia Andriski)  

STERLING, MA, UNITED STATES

12.04.2021

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Laura Berry 

Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs

After Spc. Ryan Leger finished his National Guard drill with Massachusetts National Guard’s 110th Maintenance Company at Devens, Mass., Nov. 7, 2021, his wife picked him up. As they were driving home, they noticed how nice the sunset looked. His wife, Courtney, who is a photographer, wanted to stop and take some pictures by the North Dike Wachusett Reservoir in Sterling that they were driving by. “When we finished with the pictures we walked back to our car -- before I opened the door, rocks started flying hitting my car,” said Leger. “I looked up to see an SUV going about 60-70 mph actively trying to stop. The car swerved and side-swiped two vehicles, hit the guard rails on both ends down the road about three to four times, and hit another car with a family of five head-on and hit the guard rail one more time finally stopping the vehicle.”
Once the vehicle was stopped, he said they saw flames start to come out of the engine and he immediately ran down as fast as he could towards the car. The family of five who got hit managed to get out of their vehicle by themselves and hop over the guard rail moving away from the actively burning vehicle. He reached the flaming car and opened the driver-side door, but the driver had hit the other vehicle so hard she flew into the passenger seat.
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Leger said he asked if she was ok, and she did not respond. She was awake just dazed.
“Noticing the fire was getting larger, I ran to the passenger-side door she was in, and the door was a bit bent. Luckily, I was still able to rip the door open and was able to pull the woman out of the car.”
As he was pulling the woman away, Leger said he could see the flames start to move to the inside of the car. If he had arrived a few seconds later, it would have been too late to get her out. She was finally able to stand, and he told her they needed to move away from the vehicle before it became worse. She still was not very responsive, so he picked her up and fireman carried her further away from the vehicle. A nurse that was driving by pulled over to help, and they moved the woman to the nurse’s car.
“As I put her in the back of the car, I looked over and at that point the car was fully inflamed,” said Leger. “My wife at that point was still on the phone with 911 to get help as soon as possible.”
Leger then started directing traffic away from the fire until first responders arrived. They put out the fire and got the rest of the people to safety.
“They all did an amazing job,” said Leger. “I’m just glad no one was seriously injured, it’s a miracle really that no one did because of how severe that crash was.”
Spc. Leger joined the Massachusetts National Guard about three years ago as a generator technician and is thinking of switching to the infantry. He joined to serve and protect in any way possible both state- side and overseas and it was always a goal of his to be in the military.
“I started a little later in my mid-20s, but since joining, I have really been kicking myself that I had not signed up right out of high school.”
Leger said he has been fascinated by the military since he was a kid, and will always be grateful to be a part of it. His favorite part about his short time in the military has been being able to serve in his community such as being called in for tropical storms in the area, helping with pandemic missions and spending half a year at our Nation’s Capital.
“It has been quite the ride so far, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Leger. “I know when the
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next mission is sent out, I’ll be throwing my hat in to serve.”
Leger said he believes his military training helped him with the rescue.
“I feel like it left its mark in me to never leave anyone behind and to be there first for either your fellow soldier, or fellow citizen,” said Leger. “The training we were given has definitely brought out the best of myself.”
“I’m not saying this just to promote our branch of the military, but if you really want to make a difference in today’s world, if you really want to have a good start as a career path with multiple opportunities at your disposal, and if you want to see the best version of yourself that you can bring to the table, sign up for the Guard,” said Leger. “It’s done wonders for me and my family, I know it could do the same for anyone else in our country.
Leger and his wife, Courtney, have two children and five ferrets.
“I had the most blessed opportunity to be able to adopt both of my wife’s kids, my daughter Svea and my son Laeth,” said Leger. “They may not have been mine from the beginning, but it feels like they have been since the day I met them.”
Leger said he has since heard from the woman he rescued, and she said she is doing better and grateful to have a second chance.
“I’m not sure what would have happened if we weren’t there. As weird as it sounds, it felt like second instinct. I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t scared, the only thing that went through my mind at the time was ‘you need to get them out of there now.’”

• Date Taken: 12.04.2021
• Date Posted: 12.04.2021 13:40
• Story ID: 410452
• Location: STERLING, MA, US