(KATC) — A volunteer firefighter is being hailed a hero after helping a pregnant woman escape from a vehicle fire on I-10 East in Lafayette.
That man, identified as Connor Manuel, is a volunteer firefighter with St. Landry Parish Fire District 6.
KATC spoke with Manuel Tuesday morning. He says that while traveling down I-10 East he noticed a vehicle on the side of the roadway with a woman inside. Manuel says the vehicle was emitting a heavy amount of smoke and he knew he needed to alert her to the possible danger.
Manuel’s actions may have helped save that woman’s life
In a post on Facebook, the woman, Alfrelisha Thibeaux, says she is thankful. Thibeaux, who is pregnant, says she pulled over to the side of the road when she noticed she was having car troubles.
She says that Manuel yelled at her to get out of the truck because of a small fire that had started underneath the hood. Thibeaux says she had to exit the vehicle via the passenger side door due to heavy traffic. Upon exiting the vehicle, she says it burst into flames.
Manuel and Thibeaux have been in contact with each other following the rescue.
The vehicle fire blocked the right lane of traffic for a portion of the morning near the Ambassador exit of I-10 East.
