Rep. Conte, Trapped in Burning Car, Rescued by Passing Driver
Rep. Silvio O. Conte (R-Mass.) escaped unharmed after being pulled from his burning car by a passer-by following an accident on his way to the U.S. Capitol.
“God, the Lord is good to me,” Conte said. “My door was jammed. . . . I couldn’t get out. This really beautiful human being put one foot up against the car and yanked that door open--I was a little dazed--and he put me in his car.”
Conte said the accident occurred about 8:30 a.m. Thursday as he was driving his aged red convertible south on Rock Creek Parkway from his home in Bethesda, Md. The accident happened after the driver in front of him slammed on his brakes and Conte’s car caught fire after hitting a cement wall.
An aide to Conte said the 65-year-old congressman’s rescuer asked that his name not be released.
When paramedics arrived, they put Conte in a neck brace and took him to Georgetown University Hospital where he was released after tests.
A few minutes later, he was back on the House floor, vowing to try to repair his beloved 1970 fire-engine-red Pontiac GTO.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
