Off-duty Ann Arbor firefighter pulls woman from burning car, has belongings stolen during the rescue
John Maguire spotted a fire on Dancer Road as he went through the intersection of Dancer and Jackson roads in Lima Township late on the evening of Sept. 25.
The off-duty Ann Arbor firefighter realized it was a car on its side burning, so he quickly threw his truck in reverse, turned down Dancer and headed toward the scene. When he arrived 200 yards from the intersection, he found a woman unconscious inside.
Her car, Maguire realized, had sped off an I-94 bridge overhead, landed in the street and burst into flames.
With the woman unresponsive and the flames quickly growing, Maguire and others who had stopped acted quickly. Maguire kicked out the back window, and together they pulled the woman from the car and safely to the side of the road.
Maguire, who had no equipment with him, stabilized the woman the best he could and tried to keep her airways open. She was breathing slightly, but all he could do was wait for the paramedics to arrive.
The woman, Michelle Adriann Stoj, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:30 p.m.
Despite the tragic outcome, rescue workers praised Maguire for acting quickly to pull her from the wreckage. Huron Valley Ambulance paramedic Dave Moran said he arrived on the scene to find the car engulfed in flames.
“He and the others risked their lives and the fact that she passed away doesn’t change what he did that night,” Moran said. “It was really amazing. There were significant flames, not just little flames, when they went in there — it was pretty remarkable.”
Michigan State Police have been unable to determine what caused Stoj to drive off road just before the westbound bridge that night. A witness told authorities she had passed the vehicle at an estimated 80 miles per hour before it veered to the left and off the ledge between the eastbound and westbound bridges over Dancer Road.
No other cars were involved in the accident, no one else was injured and alcohol didn’t appear to be a factor, police said. Rescue workers found a dog on the side of the road that apparently had been thrown from the car and survived, although the dog was seriously injured.
Maguire said he responded in the way that rescue workers are trained to, even when not on duty. He described feeling “helpless” over not being able to do more.
“That’s when you realize how much you appreciate your gear,” he said. “Once we got her out there wasn’t anything we could do. I just tried to keep her airways open.”
In an unfortunate twist, Maguire was hauling some items to a friend's house when he noticed the accident. The bed of his truck was open when he sped toward the scene and as he did, a bag full of roughly $500 worth of hockey equipment fell out the back.
While Maguire worked to save the woman’s life, someone made off with his hockey gear. He described the equipment as used and not of any value to anyone but himself. He's had to drop out of the hockey league he’s in because he can’t afford replacement gear.
“While he’s over rescuing this woman, some (expletive) stole his hockey equipment,” Moran said.
Moran nominated Maguire for recognition in a “life-savers ceremony” held by the HVA each year. He said Maguire’s actions were “absolute heroism, no question about it.”
Anyone with any information on the gear is asked to call the Ann Arbor Fire Department at 734-794-6961.
Update: Offers for replacement equipment or monetary donations to help buy new hockey equipment have been coming in since this story was published. Those with offers to help are asked to call Carl Hein with the Ann Arbor Fire Department at 734-765-0135.
Those who want to donate or offer replacement
Comments
KathrynHahn
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 3:38 a.m.
I hope the Dog was returned to the family okay....
shaggy
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.
@ scooter dog-Now that you know who the equipment belongs to, why dont you return it?
doglover
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 10:50 a.m.
Allisa - my deepest condolences on your double loss. The pain of losing a parent is awful; to lose a wonderful pet on top of that is excruciating. Although you can never replace either, I hope you get another dog to help fill the big hole in your heart. John - thanks for another example of selflessness and generosity of spirit.
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.
This was a sad event and now we know all the facts - why the woman ran off the road - diabetic coma - what happened to the dog - he didn't make it- and that there are good people who save lives and good people who want to help make things right.
YpsiLivin
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
Scooter Dog, The story says that the woman was 200 yards from the intersection of Jackson and Dancer roads, so for starters, the accident wasn't "far away" from Jackson Road. Second, the car was on fire. I happen to know the Maguires, and I may be going out on a limb here, but I think that losing a bag out of the back of his truck probably wasn't John's first priority at that moment. Third, the bag may well have had John's name on it. The bag may have fallen out of the truck because it wasn't secured. It doesn't matter. The person who picked it up was 200-300 yards away from the accident, saw the commotion and in all probability, saw the bag fall off the truck. The person who picked up the bag KNEW that the bag wasn't his and quite possibly knew who the bag DID belong to. Simply because the bag fell off the truck doesn't mean that it was abandoned and the person who picked it up was therefore somehow entitled to the contents. Lighten up. John didn't deserve to have his belongings stolen while he was trying to save someone's life.
MK
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 7:44 a.m.
Who steals somebody's smelly hockey equipment, sure it will turn up at Play It Again Sports soon
scooter dog
Tue, Oct 5, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.
Maybe someone can tell me HOW someone stole his hockey bag when it fell out of his truck and was picked up on jackson rd,far away from the accident. Was his name and phone number on the bag,I guess not. His bag was not stolen from his truck it fell out of his truck because he failed to secure it.
Night Angel
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 10:29 p.m.
You Whine... This IS in fact the same John that helped save a life at the Cube. Ms. Stoj....R.I.P. John, THANK YOU!!!
Alissa
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 9:39 p.m.
I would like to thank the firefighter John Maguire who tried to save my mother (Michelle A.Stoj). After seeing the accident site and the my car I am not sure how you did it. You risked your life to save the two that ment the world to me. My mother was my best friend and the dog (Mo'xito) was my little angel. I am sorry to hear that someone was that evil to take your hockey gear. You were trying to keep my mother alive (after she went into a diabetic coma) and someone treated you this way. The Dog I am sorry to report never survived the ride to the ER (he died on the way from internal injuries). Again Thank You!!
Justice4all
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.
Thank you John and to all of the men and women that put your life on the line each and every day. Last week I was inspired by the WCSO deputy, today AAFD, and each day by our men and women over seas. Thank you all for what you do.
Kai Petainen
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.
wow. what an incredible (sad yet heroic) story... thoughts/prayers to the family. best wishes to the AAFD.
Ann English
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 7:31 p.m.
Sounds like Dancer Road has been paved under I-94 sometime since the early 1980's, when others drove me to Chelsea that way. "Big flames, not little ones"? After viewing car fire video months ago on AnnArbor.com, I understand what "little flames" are. I think I recall seeing this woman's name in the obituaries last week, but never dreamed she would die this way.
Urban Sombrero
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 6:14 p.m.
Holy cow, I know that guy (John)! He was a neighbor of mine until recently. Great guy! Nice family, too. It's really sad that this happened. I'm sorry someone could be callous enough to make off with the equipment. Hopefully, it had fallen out and looked like it was discarded on the side of the road, and wasn't actively taken out of the bed of his truck. There's a difference. (I can understand someone picking up what they think is trash, or discarded stuff. But outright theft is awful.) Good job, John! I hope you, and your family, are all well. :)
Dominick Lanza
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 5:30 p.m.
John Maguire is an example of the public servants we enjoy in Ann Arbor without thought for his own well being he went into action without his fire truck or protective gear thanks also to those brave folks who helped also. Next time someone talks about laying off A2 firefighters remember this act as he is an example we can be proud of
Gene
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
I have a spare helmet, hockey bag, helmet, pants, socks, jerseys, and sticks all in newish condition I'd be willing to donate if some knows how to get me in touch with the firefighter in question.
YouWhine
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 4:07 p.m.
Isn't this the same John Maguire that helped save a guy's life while playing hockey at the cube one time? http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2008/11/offduty_heroes_save_a_life_at.html
DFSmith
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 3:50 p.m.
RIP, mS Stoj. And to Mr McGuire- thank you for your willingness to serve and protect. You are a good man.
Kirk Vantine
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 3:09 p.m.
This was not meant as a disrespect for the family of the person in this accident. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I truly respect the people who serve this country and help make it a better place. They deserve better than this. Thanks again to Play It Again Sports for this generous offer.
amlive
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
Well there you have it - Thank you Kirk, and thank you Miguel and Play It Again Sports for stepping up to this!
amlive
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.
$500 in lost gear, but I'll bet if someone starts up a collection they should have no problem getting $1500 to replace it with top of the line equipment. I wonder if any of his colleagues at the station are perhaps taking up a collection? Hopefully someone reading this knows someone who recently came in to a pile of new hockey equipment, and reports them right away. Stealing from a man while he is risking his life to try and keep a woman from dying. How low can you go? Of course the loss of hockey equipment is kind of hard to lament, while at the same time it was being taken a life was lost as well. My condolences to Michelle's family, and I'm sure they need more help getting through this than John having to drop out of a league. Kind of puts things in perspective. Still, if anyone knows of a donation pool to replace John's equipment, let us know. Both he and the others who helped are true heros for their efforts. John certainly does not deserve to suffer punishment for putting other's lives before his, and I hope he gets back in to the rink soon.
simply amazed
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
Great job Kirk!!!
Kirk Vantine
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:35 p.m.
I jsut could not beleive this story. Had to do something. I just talk with the manager at Play It Again Sports in Ann Arbor over on Maple and he is willing to donate free equipemnet. How can we connect John with the store manager? I gave the manager (Miguel) his name and John can stop in anytime to pick up equiment needed for free.
simply amazed
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.
I have a Victory Honda hockey bag in good shape you can have. What size are you?
djm12652
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:25 p.m.
Thank you Mr. Maguire for your selfless and heroic actions...shame on the scum that took your gear.
sandy schopbach
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.
Old proverb: No good deed goes unpunished. I hope he gets his things back.
JGS
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.
@fjord - I totally agree. A2.com is there something setup where we can donate? I think more would be interested if something like this was done. Great idea fjord!
JGS
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
I personally know John and his brother very well and have played hockey with both. Not only is he a great firefighter and hockey player, he's a GREAT PERSON. I'm hoping that someone turns the gear in and that they didn't intentionally take it. I will be personally checking craigslist, ebay and local play it again sports stores. Let's hope Karma finds you before I do. All the best to you John and "P" too.;)
Bella Blue
Mon, Oct 4, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.
Thank You John Maguire for what you do. And what you did. Bless you. And to whomever stole the hockey equipment I just have one thing to say, Karma.