New England Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming is an apparent hero for rescuing a woman from a smoking car crash, pulling her from a vehicle and injuring himself in the process last week. He then played Saturday's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs with 22 stitches in his right leg -- which hardly anyone else knew at the time, he told reporters Wednesday.
Fleming told NFL reporters Wednesday that he saw three cars collide in front him two miles away from the Patriots' home stadium last Thursday, Jan. 14. He said he was unable to open the woman's car doors, so kicked in her window to pull her out. A witness told reporters that he freed the woman from her car "like a rag doll."
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"I was about to go around it, but I noticed the lady in front of me, she kind of was jumping around the car, passenger seat, back seat, and I noticed smoke building up inside the car," Fleming said Wednesday. "I tried to open the doors and it wouldn't work. So then I was just like, 'I have to get her out of here. I don't know if this lady can breathe or what. I started banging on the window. It wouldn't break. So then I started to kick in the window and eventually it broke."
Later Wednesday, outlets including Deadspin and TMZ Sports reported difficulty finding public records matching the scene Fleming described. This reporting cast some shadow of doubt about his story, especially after USC football star Josh Shaw lied about rescuing a drowning boy in 2014.
But the Walpole (Massachusetts) Police Department released a statement Wednesday afternoon describing an incident matching what Fleming described.
"There was no fire involved in this crash however there was air bag deployment, which to the untrained eye can appear as if the vehicle is enveloped in smoke," the statement detailed. "The officers on scene did indicate one of the vehicles did have a broken window. The operator of that vehicle did make statements to one officer that a male party 'kicked in my window, I think he was a Patriot.'"
NECN reporter Kathryn Sotnik also tracked down some witnesses, who provided more color, as well as the victim herself.
I'm talking to someone who witnessed the crash and watched #DariusFleming pull the woman out of the car "like a rag doll." @NECN— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
The witnesses to crash say #DariusFleming was wearing shorts, a Pats winter hat and a Pats hoodie. @NECN— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
Witnesses say woman's car was smoking, not on fire. #DariusFleming kicked out window. @NECN— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
Witnesses also say #DariusFleming's own truck was almost hit on Rte 1 when he was helping the woman. Thankfully it wasn't. @NECN— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
We are talking right now to the victim that @dfleming58 rescued. She is "so gracious" that he helped. Calls him "compassionate." @NECN— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
Victim says she was "in shock" that a @Patriots player rescued her. Says he offered to stay with her. @dfleming58— Kathryn Sotnik (@KathrynNECN) January 20, 2016
So there you have it: Darius Fleming, New England Patriot and real-life hero. As for the quickness with which many cast doubt upon his account, Fleming appeared to address that with a tweet Wednesday afternoon.
People are quick to try and bring you down....so sad— Darius Fleming (@dfleming58) January 20, 2016
Fleming's Patriots play the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday for a berth in the Super Bowl.