Posted on the 26th May 2026 in PHTM News

HERO VAN DRIVER RESCUES OBLIVIOUS TAXI PASSENGERS FROM M60 VEHICLE FIRE

The anonymous van driver was travelling along the motorway in Greater Manchester near Simister Island on Thursday when he spotted flames coming from the cab.

The anonymous van driver was travelling along the motorway in Greater Manchester near Simister Island on Thursday when he spotted flames coming from the cab.

Acting quickly, he pulled up alongside the taxi to warn the driver. "I drove near him and told him he needed to pull over - he was not aware of the fire," the van driver said.

After the taxi pulled over, the van driver jumped in to help, noting that one of the two passengers was disabled. He safely helped everyone out of the burning vehicle and called 999.

To ensure their safety, he loaded all three people into his own van and drove them to a secure area away from the blaze to wait for emergency services. "I was amazed how quickly the firefighters arrived," he later remarked.

According to the rescuer, the taxi driver appeared to be around 20 years old and had noticed a warning light before the fire took hold. "He said he noticed a problem with his oil light but thought he could leave the motorway at the next services," the van driver explained.

The young driver was left shaken by the ordeal. "He was very shocked. I'm used to seeing this kind of thing on the motorway but I don't think he has ever seen a car on fire on the motorway before," the van driver added.

Thanks to the quick-thinking intervention, the taxi driver and both passengers escaped the incident entirely unharmed.


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