Good Samaritan rescues three people from burning car — just in time

On Tuesday night, Rui Gouveia, 41, was on his way to his overnight shift as a corrections officer at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, when he saw a 2003 Chevy Malibu speed past him in the wrong lane.

"What went through my mind was, ‘Oh, my God, they’re gonna crash, they’re gonna crash,’" Gouveia told CBS Boston.

Sure enough, just seconds later, the Malibu veered off the road, smashing into a tree.

"[The driver] hit the tree, the car lifted up into the air rolled over and the right away the fire started — exploded right away," Gouveia said.

Gouveia knew he didn’t have time to call 911. Instead, he jumped out of his vehicle and ran toward the burning car. He pulled the 20-year-old driver and his two passengers, 18 and 19, out of the car only moments before the fire engulfed the entire vehicle.

All three escaped the crash without any serious injuries.

"My concern was I didn’t know if there was a fuel leak and I was worried about an explosion," Gouveia told the Standard-Times.

"It was my instincts. As soon as I saw the fire, I said, ‘I have to pull them out.’"

"About 20 seconds later the fire was even worse," the married father of one told CBS Boston. “That’s when all hell broke loose.”

Gouveia told ABC 6 that all he could think about during the rescue was the passengers’ families.

"Oh, my gosh, these families could have lost their children tonight," he recalled thinking.

Police and fire officials arrived at the scene shortly after Gouveia rescued the three young adults from the fire.

"Firefighters and police officers reported to me that Mr. Gouveia simply saved three lives," said Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher. “There is no doubt in their minds that this incident would have had a more tragic ending had Mr. Gouveia not intervened.”

"Anytime a civilian places himself in harm’s way to aid another is beyond commendable," he added.

"If he wasn’t there, it would be a different outcome," Detective James Costa said of Gouveia’s heroic efforts.

The 20-year-old driver is facing charges of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

As for Gouveia, he has no regrets.

"If I have to do it again, I would do it, that’s the way I put it," he said.