Driver escapes injury in fiery crash on I-355 in Downers Grove

Illinois State Police said a car burst into flames after it crashed into a wall along southbound I-355 in Downers Grove early Sunday.

The driver escaped the vehicle unharmed, according to police. Officials said the driver was later charged with DUI, but they have not released his name.

ABC 7 Chicago reported two college students from DuPage County assisted the driver in his escape. Both men confirmed their story later in the day.

Illinois State Police said they could not confirm the information about the rescue. By the time troopers arrived at the scene near the 21½-mile marker, the Chrysler Sebring was engulfed in flames, police said. The driver was out of the car and did not require medical treatment, police said.

Rimas Barsketis, 20, of Downers Grove, a College of DuPage student, and Ray Cepele, 19, of Lemont, who attends North Central College, said they were driving home about 1 a.m. when they saw a car that had burst into flames.

"Immediately, we pulled over," Barsketis said. "I told my friend to call 911."

As Cepele was calling, Barsketis said he spotted a man in the car.

Barsketis said, "I started yelling, 'Get out! Get out!'"

After half a minute, the man opened the door and exited the vehicle.

Barsketis said the man stumbled getting out of the car and wandered into the middle lane of the highway and stood there looking at the car.

"All of a sudden, he starts going back towards the car," he said. "So me and my friend grabbed him and dragged him to the shoulder and sat him down."

After a few minutes, he said, police and fire units arrived.

Barsketis said he spoke to a truck driver, who told him the Sebring was traveling at a fast speed before it hit the median.

He said the fire grew in intensity after the driver left the vehicle, with tires popping.

"I used to be a Boy Scout, and I'm a camp counselor. So we're always taught whenever something like that happens, first thing call 911," Barketis said

Cepele attributed his action to "general instincts to just try to help someone out."