Bassano man hailed as hero for saving the life of another after crash

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Brook Wagner
Southern Alberta Newspapers

A Bassano man is being credited with saving a driver’s life after a crash set off a grass fire that trapped the driver in a burning vehicle, Bassano RCMP say.

On July 8, Bassano RCMP responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash just outside of Bassano. Police say the vehicle collided with a power pole, which snapped in half, causing a large grass fire and leaving the solo driver trapped inside.

Bassano Fire was able to quickly gain control and suppress the fire, containing it to a small area. EMS treated the driver on scene and took them to Brooks Health Centre with non-life threatening injuries.

Police say a local Good Samaritan likely saved the life of the driver. The crash knocked out power in town, sending up a plume of black smoke. Police say the man travelled to the scene on his own, where he found the driver unconscious and the entire vehicle surrounded in fire.

Police say the man did not want to risk more injury by pulling the driver out. Instead, he grabbed a chain, towed the vehicle away from the pole and the fire, and then called 911.

RCMP said there was no signs of intoxication and no other vehicles were involved in the crash. Police believe the cause to be medically related.

Bassano detachment commander Sgt. Joe Schmidt said the rescue shows “the character, humanity and courage of our local Bassano community. What the man did was save a life.”

He added that a “more formalized acknowledgement is in process.”