In the heart of south Ottawa, what began as a night of casual socializing transformed into a moment of extraordinary courage when two Hillcrest High School students rescued a teenager trapped in a burning vehicle near Mooney’s Bay.
Seventeen-year-old Thomas MacDonald and his friend Jack were driving home after spending time with friends when they spotted flames erupting from a car that had crashed into a tree near Riverside Drive. Without hesitation, the teens pulled over and rushed toward the burning wreckage.
“We saw smoke and then flames starting to come up from the hood,” MacDonald told me during our interview at a local coffee shop, his hands still showing minor burns from the rescue. “There wasn’t really time to think about it. Someone needed help.”
The crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. last Friday when a vehicle carrying several teenagers veered off the road near the popular recreation area. Ottawa Police confirmed that excessive speed likely contributed to the accident, though their investigation continues.
What happened next demonstrates remarkable bravery. As flames intensified, MacDonald and Jack discovered a disoriented 16-year-old driver still trapped inside the vehicle. The impact had jammed the driver’s side door, and with smoke filling the cabin, time was running dangerously short.
“The driver was conscious but clearly in shock,” Jack explained. “He couldn’t seem to understand that his car was on fire. We kept telling him he needed to get out immediately.”
With the fire spreading rapidly, the teens managed to force open the passenger door and pull the driver to safety—mere moments before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. Ottawa Fire Services arrived minutes later, but Battalion Chief Mark Wilson acknowledged the rescue had already been completed by the time first responders reached the scene.
“These young men demonstrated exceptional courage,” Wilson said. “In my twenty-three years with Ottawa Fire, I’ve seen how quickly vehicle fires can escalate. Their quick thinking likely saved a life.”
Ottawa Paramedic Service reported treating the driver for minor injuries and smoke inhalation before transporting him to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Two other passengers had exited the vehicle before it caught fire and sustained only minor injuries.
The rescue has captured attention throughout our community. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe acknowledged the teens’ heroism during yesterday’s council meeting, calling their actions “a remarkable display of citizenship that makes our city proud.”
Hillcrest High School principal Donna Garneau told me the school plans to recognize MacDonald and Jack at an upcoming assembly. “These students embody the values we hope to instill in all young people—courage, selflessness, and a willingness to help others in need.”
For Ottawa Police Constable Michael Lemieux, who responded to the crash, the teens’ actions stand out as particularly remarkable. “We often see people recording emergencies on phones rather than helping. These young men did exactly what we would hope anyone would do in such a situation.”
Perhaps most striking about this story is the humility both rescuers have shown since the incident. When asked about being called heroes, MacDonald shook his head.
“We just did what needed doing,” he said. “I think most people would have helped if they were there. We’re just glad everyone made it out okay.”
The incident has sparked conversations about emergency preparedness among Ottawa’s youth. Ottawa Fire Services has since announced plans to expand their youth safety program in area high schools, focusing specifically on what to do when encountering vehicle emergencies.
As I’ve covered Ottawa’s community stories for over fifteen years, what stands out in this narrative is how it cuts against troubling stereotypes about teenage behavior. In an era where young people often receive criticism, MacDonald and Jack’s instinctive decision to
