LESLIE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WWJ) -- Several Michigan State Police troopers and police officers in the Lansing area are being called heroes after helping to rescue three people from a fiery wrong-way crash Wednesday night.
MSP officials say a trooper, whose name has not been released, was headed north on US-127 near Leslie Township, a little more than 20 miles south of Lansing, around 10:30 p.m. when he came across a three-vehicle crash in which two of the vehicles were on fire.
The trooper was quick to jump into action, attempting to rescue the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which was fully engulfed in flames. He was able to get the 22-year-old man from Lansing out of the truck, who was then taken to Sparrow Hospital.
Other troopers and officers from the Leslie Police Department, Mason Police Department and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene and were able to work together and extinguish the fire as it was spreading to one of the other vehicles involved.
The officers were able to rescue a 25-year-old man from Leslie, who was airlifted to Sparrow Hospital. The driver of the third vehicle, a 19-year-old from Leslie, was also taken to Sparrow in an ambulance.
Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP, commended all the troopers and officers who responded to the scene, saying “I couldn’t be prouder of the courage and bravery on dislpay.”
"I have no doubt if you asked any of these officers about this incident, they would simply say this act of service and selflessness was merely a part of their job. I, for one, am thankful they were there last night,” Gasper said.
Two troopers were treated for smoke inhalation, including the first trooper on the scene, who also sustained minor burns while rescuing the driver of the truck.
Authorities are still investigating the incident, but it appears the 22-year-old driver of the F-150 was heading south in the northbound lanes of US-127 and struck the two other vehicles head-on.
Alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash.
The driver of the pickup truck and one of the other drivers remain in the hospital with serious injuries, while the other driver has been treated and released.
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