National Guardsmen Pull Driver From Burning Car in Illinois

May 15--National Guardsmen Tony Genovese and Jeremy Adkins have both seen combat, which was fortunate for the driver of a Buick that burst into flames in the South Loop.

Genovese and Adkins said they relied on their training and experience Wednesday night as they struggled with locked doors and finally busted a window to pull the driver to safety before emergency crews arrived.

"We didn't do it for any recognition," Genovese, 30, said Thursday. "I wouldn't say I'm a hero. I just got out of my car to help."

Adkins, 27, agreed. "The heroes are the emergency responders that do this every day. We just happened to be in the right place to lend a hand."

Genovese and Adkins were stopped at a red light at Roosevelt Road and Columbus Drive around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday when the Buick LaCrosse sped up and tried to pass a Jeep Cherokee on the right, according to Officer Amina Greer, a police spokeswoman.

The driver of the Buick lost control, hit the Jeep and then a planter, according to police and fire officials.

Genovese and Adkins rushed to the scene. The passenger of the Buick had gotten out of the car, and was dazed but walking, Genovese said. The two women in the Jeep were shook up but said they were fine.

But the driver remained in the Buick as smoke rose from the engine, according to Genovese and Adkins.

"The driver was yelling and pounding on the steering wheel," Genovese said.

The two men tried to open the doors but they were locked. They banged on the windows, telling the driver to get out, but he didn't respond.

"It was like he didn't hear us," Genovese said. "When I started to kick in the window, he went completely unconscious."

Adkins went to his car to find something to break the window. But as he walked away, the smoke and flames from the engine grew. Genovese stuck his fingers through a slight crack in the driver's side window and managed to break the window open. Then he unlocked the door and the two pulled the driver out.

"We didn't want to move the driver, but the vehicle was on fire," Adkins said. "We dragged him out about 15 to 20 feet. That's when the fire department showed up and sprang into action. We got him out of the car in good time. They got the fire out in good time."

The driver of the Buick was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released, police said. He was cited for failure to stay in his lane, failure to reduce speed and driving without insurance, Greer said. His passenger was treated at Stroger Hospital.

The woman driving the Jeep was transported to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. Her passenger was taken to Northwestern. They were both treated and released, police said.

Genovese grew up in Naperville and enlisted in the Army National Guard days after his 17th birthday. He's been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and now works as a National Guard recruiter. He's also the co-founder of EasyGo Dispenser, a plastic container that measures out the powder for protein drinks and baby formula.

Adkins grew up in Riverside and has served in Afghanistan. When his first tour ended, he extended his time by several months. Now he lives in Lakeview and is co-founder of 1871-based Dyner, a restaurant ordering and payment app.

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