Updated: Jul 6, 2016 - 8:46 PM
© 2016 Cox Media Group. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
A deadly vehicle fire shut down I-95 south for several hours Wednesday at mile marker 196 in the Rockledge-Viera area.
Firefighters Dan White and Larissa Conroy were off duty and returning home from a class when they saw the fire.
They found a Suburban, which was towing an enclosed trailer, jackknifed, with the Suburban on its driver side, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue.
The vehicle was on fire and large, black plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away on the highway.
White and Conroy found a victim who was pinned underneath the vehicle and with the help of bystanders, they were able to roll the vehicle upright and drag the victim to safety, Fire Rescue said.
They then turned their attention to the driver, who was trapped inside the vehicle.
Conroy was able to move the seat back and pull the driver through the back door of the vehicle.
The rescues were performed while the vehicle was still burning.
Authorities said a woman died at a Viera hospital. Another person had minor injuries, and a third person was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert.
Investigators also said there was a dead dog and a dead chicken in the wreckage.
The names of those involved have not been released.
The lanes have reopened.
This afternoon BCFR and Rockledge Fire Department responded to a horrific vehicle collision with fire on Interstate 95 MM 196.
Firefighters Dan White and Larissa Conroy were off duty and returning home from a class when they came upon the incident. They found an SUV which was towing an enclosed trailer jack knifed with the SUV on its driver side. The pair found a patient who was pinned underneath the vehicle and in need of immediate assistance. With the help of bystanders, they rolled the vehicle back upright and dragged the victim to safety. They then focused on the driver who was still pinned in the vehicle.
Firefighter Conroy used the electric seat to move the seat back and then pulled the patient through the back door of the vehicle while Dan White held back the flames with a portable fire extinguisher. These heroic actions were performed while the vehicle was burning. Although the outcome wasn't ideal, their selfless actions are what the true spirit of the fire service is all about.