Hero Driver Honored For Risking His Life Running Across Traffic To Save Woman Who Passed Out Behind The Wheel

Feb 08, 2023 by apost team

An Uber driver has received two honors after he risked his life and never hesitated to rush and save a female driver who apparently lost consciousness behind the wheel on a busy highway.

Alfred Molina Burgos, a Dominican immigrant residing in Lawrence, MA, has been called a hero after he courageously ran and crossed four lanes of the I-93 near Boston just to get to the woman. Burgos' act of bravery was filmed by another driver and became a viral video, uploaded on Jan. 30, 2023. 

There are many reasons a driver could experience passing out behind the wheel, including drowsy driving caused by fatigue from the daily grind, the after-effects of drinking medications, or having a sleep disorder. However, the incident may also be a warning sign for someone having a cardiac arrest or diabetic hypoglycemia.

Burgos, who was driving back from the airport with his wife, Maytee Pena, was alert enough to notice that something was wrong with the woman in another car as she seemingly barreled her vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. Without missing a beat, Burgos stopped his car, jumped out, and ran after the woman's car to try to stop it from crashing. He struggled with his attempt as the road was muddy and slippery.

Fortunately, another driver assisted Burgos in trying to stop the car, and they succeeded in pushing the vehicle onto the guardrails so it slowed down and stopped just in time for the traffic authorities to get to the scene. 

According to the Massachusetts State Police, the woman, 57, did have a medical emergency, but her identity was not released. 

Following the incident, Burgos was invited to the Dominican Consulate of Boston, Massachusetts, on Jan. 31, 2023, where he was recognized for his selfless act. The next day, the mayor and councilors of Lawrence also honored and thanked him for saving the woman's life, citing that he was "an example for everyone." 

"I feel lucky to meet you, my staff had shown me the video where you are trying to help the person driving on the highway, and I know your parents have educated you to be a good man in our society," Mayor Brian DePena told the highway hero when he visited City Hall.

Burgos moved to Lawrence from the Dominican Republic with his family more than five years ago. In an interview with CBS Boston, his wife said that she was not surprised by her husband's quick decision to run after the woman's car.

"He's a helpful person, so it wasn't surprising, but at the same time it was a sign from God for him to help at that moment," Pena said. 

On the other hand, Burgos said that he risked his life because the person in the car was someone's mom or sister. If presented with the same situation a thousand times over, he would still not hesitate to do the same thing. He also believed that he was unhurt from crossing the busy highway because God was protecting him. 

Meanwhile, the hero driver has yet to hear from the woman he saved, but he is planning to meet her one day to "share a big hug." Since the video has gone viral, his family said that their phones have not stopped ringing.

apost.com

Were you inspired by this brave hero's selfless deed? Have you ever witnessed someone in distress on the highway? Tell us what you think of this story, and pass this along to your family and friends!