Comedian Eugene Mirman thanks rescuers who pulled him from fiery car crash in New Hampshire | New Hampshire
Bob’s Burgers voice actor Eugene Mirman says he’s “extraordinarily grateful to the heroic folks” who rescued him from the wreckage of his fiery car crash at a New Hampshire toll booth on Tuesday; This accident reportedly caused serious injuries.
The 51-year-old comedian said the following in his thank you speech: Instagram post Late Friday morning, he also described being emotionally buoyed by “well wishes, love and kind messages from friends and strangers” following the wreck.
Mirman also wrote: “I am grateful beyond words to be here and in relatively good shape, all things considered.” He made a few jokes and added: “I don’t have my phone with me, so [I] I haven’t been online much. I don’t recommend my method of reducing screen time.
“If you’re a friend who sends a kind, loving message, you should know that it’s hard not to respond with ‘I’d love to be on your podcast.'”
Just before noon on the day of the accident, Mirman and the electric vehicle he was driving crashed into the Bedford toll booth and caught fire, authorities said. New Hampshire governor Kelly Ayotte and her security detail arrived at the crash scene a short time later, and a state trooper joined two bystanders in pulling Mirman from his burning car through a window, according to a police official.
Local news outlet WCAX obtained video footage of the immediate aftermath of the crash. IT showed Mirman’s car was completely destroyed as bright orange flames engulfed it and clouds of thick, black smoke rose into the air.
Mirman’s manager, Jay Glassner, said in a statement Wednesday that the actor was hospitalized and is recovering from injuries sustained during the “very horrific car accident.”
“He would like to thank the bystanders, state police, first responders and hospital staff who rescued him,” Glassner’s statement continued. “He is grateful for his recovery.”
Col. Mark Hall of the New Hampshire state police hailed Mirman’s rescuers as “heroes” and said: “They put themselves in harm’s way without hesitation to help someone in need.”
Ayotte, meanwhile, issued a statement praising the soldier’s security detail and bystanders for their “brave life-saving efforts.”
Mirman echoed Hall, Glassner and Ayotte’s remarks in a Friday Instagram post that included his first public comment on a crash that attracted national media attention.
“I am extraordinarily grateful to the heroic people who rescued me from the car and to the warm, kind, and talented staff at the hospital who cared for me and helped me recover,” Mirman wrote. She signed off her post with the words: “I love you all and please take care Eugene.”
Next to Mirman’s post was a photo showing him with his right arm, wrist and middle finger bandaged. He also held up a children’s picture book titled Life is an Adventure.
Mirman, whose first name is Evgeniy, was born in Moscow, raised in Massachusetts, and rose to fame voicing the character Gene Belcher in more than 300 episodes of the animated comedy Bob’s Burgers. He also voices Belcher in The Bob’s Burgers Movie and has appeared in the TV series Flight of the Conchords, Delocated, and Archer.
Associated Press contributed reporting
