Darius Fleming

Patriots Linebacker Saves Woman From Burning Vehicle

Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming played in Saturday’s playoff victory over the Chiefs with 22 stitches in his right calf after kicking out the window of a burning car and rescuing the female occupant on Thursday.

Fleming said came upon a 3 car crash just north of a Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 1 in Massachusetts near Gillette Stadium on Thursday just after leaving practice. He saw the woman climb into the back seat of the vehicle in an attempt to escape the smoke and when she couldn’t get out Fleming sprung into action.

“She was attempting to kick the window out, but she was a small lady,” said Fleming.“I didn’t panic, but I was just like, ‘I got to get her out.’

“I tried to break [the window] with my elbow, but that didn’t work, so I just started kicking the window. Eventually it broke, pulled her out, made sure she was OK, and I looked at my leg and I noticed it was bleeding pretty bad.”

Confident that the scene was under control and that the woman wasn’t in any further danger, Fleming returned to Gillette stadium where trainers treated his lacerations and sent him to the hospital for stitches.

The Patriots players weighed in on their new resident hero.

Fleming in his fourth NFL season, his second with the Patriots after getting drafted by the 49ers in 2012.