Walpole Police have confirmed that an accident did, in fact, take place on Rt. 1 in Foxboro last Thursday, and it sure sounds like Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming saved the day.
After speculation began rapidly building that Fleming possibly made the heroic story up, Walpole police released a statement detailing a multi-car crash that involved a woman having her window kicked in when she was trapped inside her vehicle.
Part 1 of the incident report regarding a "Good Samaritan" who turned out to be #Patriots LB Darius Fleming pic.twitter.com/QxfCPZg1Of
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2016
Here is the second half of the report of #Patriots LB Darius Fleming helping out in a car crash pic.twitter.com/Vo7XHcSKDy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2016
The only part of the original story that was inaccurate is that the car was not on fire. However, law enforcement officials said an airbag inside the car deployed, which can lead the untrained eye to believe there is smoke. Anyone who has been in a car accident and had the airbag come out knows exactly what that is like.
Reporters likely called various police and fire departments asking about a car that caught fire, which could explain why it was so difficult to confirm the details that Fleming shared. The woman he helped even said “I think he was a Patriot” when asked about the man who was described as an “unknown good Samaritan.”
So, in the end, it sounds like the story Fleming told was almost entirely accurate. Not only that, but it’s even more impressive that he left the scene and didn’t stick around to have his moment of fame.
Unfortunately, the situation where a USC player lied about saving a child’s life over a year ago has turned many people into skeptics. We can all go back to giving Fleming the praise he deserves.
