Heroics save girl from car fire

Havre Police Department’s Animal Control Officer Pete Federspiel and Havreite Matt Boucher rescued the driver of a burning vehicle Wednesday.

“They probably saved the girl’s life,” said Havre Police Capt. Ryan Pearson this morning.

The crash reported at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday occurred after the driver of a vehicle on Eighth Avenue West near Boulevard Avenue had a medical issue, said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Christopher Baker. The vehicle hit an embankment and the hot underside of the vehicle started dry grass at the side of the road on fire.

That fire spread to the vehicle, Baker added.

Pearson said local agencies responded to the crash along with MHP, including Hill County Sheriff’s deputies and Havre Fire Department with an ambulance and engine, but Federspiel happened to be driving down that street first and saw the crash and fire. He stopped to help the driver, and Boucher did as well.

The two men “broke out the passenger side window of the vehicle and pulled the passenger out before the vehicle burst into flames,” Pearson said.

Baker said the vehicle was a total loss.

The ambulance crew checked three people at the scene, but no one was made available at the fire department to comment.

Baker said the driver, who had minor injuries, was transported by private vehicle to the hospital, and Pearson said Federspiel had a minor injury, which he had treated, but he was back at work today.