After helping the New England Patriots win the AFC Championship game, Vince Wilfork helped save a woman from an overturned car. And, according to police, he only needed one hand to lift the woman from the wreck.
Surveillance video shows a driver pulling into the parking lot of a motorcycle dealership on U.S. Route 1 around 12:45 a.m. Monday. Police say the driver thought she was making a U-turn, but didn't see a ledge, and her Jeep rolled over.
Moments later, Wilfork pulled up to the scene.
State police say they were surprised when they showed up and Wilfork, fresh off the championship game, was there speaking with the driver who had been trapped. One of the troopers opened up the door, and Wilfork went to work, scooping the driver out with just one hand.
"I was just lucky to help. That was it," said Wilfork. "I don't want anything from it. If I see that a million times, I'd do it a million times, no matter what the situation would be."
The driver, 38-year-old Mary Ellen Brooks of Hanson, was unable to get out of her vehicle. A state trooper held the driver's side door open and Wilfork reached in and helped lift the woman out with one hand, police said.
"I saw the lady in there, and I asked her, was she OK, can she move, can she grab my hand ... I actually pulled her out of the window," the nose tackle said. "It wasn't a big deal."
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Wilfork left the scene after ensuring that troopers weren't in need of any further assistance.
Brooks was placed under arrest and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
After the incident, Wilfork and his wife discussed the impact of what had transpired.
"Things are a lot more precious in life, other than games or anything you accomplish," he said. "There's some things out there that's more important, and it showed last night."
The Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 on Sunday night in Foxboro, and will now face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
