As the starting goalie for Siena's men's soccer team, Adam Myers '14 made his share of big saves before. But nothing could have prepared him for what transpired Friday night.
Myers, a masters in Accounting student, was driving on Barney Road in Clifton Park, N.Y just after 8 p.m. when he saw a car filled with smoke travelling in the opposite direction. Myers turned to see the car careen through a parking lot and then down a shallow ravine into Murphy's Pond.
He didn't hesitate to react, sprinting toward the burning vehicle.
"It was like something you see in the movies," Myers said when reached on his cell phone Monday morning. "The cabin of the car was completely engulfed in flames."
Another witness joined Myers in a daring rescue attempt.
"The two of us opened the door and (the driver) was completely on fire," Myers said. "We pulled him out, and I dragged him toward the water and dunked him in the mud to put out the flames."
Ironically, Myers said this wouldn't have been possible if the driver had been wearing a seat belt.
"We didn't have much time to act," Myers said. "We saw some gas cans in the back of the car and had to get as far away as possible. There were a few loud pops from the car moments after we got him out."
According to local news reports, the Saratoga County Sheriff's department said the driver was severely injured. Myers said he was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center and was uncertain of his condition as of Monday morning.
Myers, who joined the athletic department's 4.0 club with a perfect final semester at Siena, graduated summa cum laude with a 3.84 grade point average in accounting in May.
He attributed his actions to his upbringing and his experience as a student athlete. "That's the way I was raised," Myers, who was contacted Sunday by ABC national news said. "My family always taught me to help others out, and it's just in my blood. I'm sure being an athlete played a role too."
