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Woman who pulled three teens from fiery wreck says screams from driver she wasn't able to save still haunt her

Published: 13:54 EST, 6 April 2014 | Updated: 13:57 EST, 6 April 2014

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A woman who pulled three teens from a burning car says she is haunted by the screams of a fourth person she was unable to save.

Jennifer Paige has been hailed a hero for her quick thinking in rescuing the trapped teenagers. But while the 39 year old was able to save three lives she was beaten back by flames as she tried to reach 16-year-old Kevin Monaco.

He burned to death after his legs were apparently trapped by the engine block after the mini-van he was driving in slammed into a tree and burst into flames.

Burned to death: Driver Kevin Moncao did not survive the fiery crash

Paige fought back tears as she recalled the desperate rescue attempt.

'We tried really hard to get that driver door open,' Paige said. 'But it got too hot to fast and we couldn't get him.

'I will never forget his face and I will never forget the sound of his voice,' she told Bay News 9. 'All I can think about is how much I wish I had the ability to get him out of that car.'

Her dad James Dowd told WTSP: 'I tried to get the driver out. No matter what I did I couldn't pop that door. The flames were shooting out, over me, past him.'

Paige was in her home in Port Richey,Florida, when she heard a loud noise outside on Friday afternoon. She rushed out to see a mini-van had collided with a tree and burst into flames.

Despite suffering burns to her arms she was able to pull the three teens out through the passengers windows.

Jamie Florio,16, Megan Khan,15 and Michael Morgan,17, were all saved before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Florio suffered severe burns having been pulled from the front passenger seat.

Saved: Michael Morgan (left) and Jamie Florio (right) were pulled to safety from the burning car

She was flown by helicopter to Tampa where she was said to be in a stable condition. The others teens suffered minor injuries.

But the driver was trapped. She said he was screaming for help, but his body was trapped and she was unable to pull him out.

'He was awake, he was lucid and just talking, asking us to get him out,' she recalled. 'The car was so hot, I was burned just touching it. I have never seen a fire spread so quick. There was no time to wait.'

The crash is still under investigation, troopers said. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor.

All three passengers attend Ridgewood High School in New Port Richey, troopers said. Monaco was home-schooled, they said.

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A man who identified himself as Monaco's father said the family was dealing with the tragedy and wished to be left alone. The family later issued a statement following an outpouring of grief from friends on Facebook.

The Monaco statement said 'our family is devastated. Let's all learn from this and never take our friends or family for granted.'

Dowd and Paige said the van's engine appeared to be shoved against Monaco's legs.

'From the waist down, he couldn't move at all,' Paige said. "There was no way to get him out.'

Even though she was able to help save three lives, Paige said Monaco's last moments will haunt her forever.

'I just keep thinking about his mom,' said Paige, who has children about the same age. 'I'm going to see his face the rest of my life.'

Comments (5)

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xcountmeinx, Hereford, moments ago

What an in incredibly brave woman!! I'm sure it will haunt her. But she's done far more than the average bi stander would probably ever do.

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null, United Kingdom, moments ago

She did what was possible some would not think not of the person you could not save but the three that you did

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natural, Bristol, United Kingdom, moments ago

Aww bless. She did her best. Its not her fault.

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My Wag Wag, Philadelphia, United States, moments ago

A true hero. Sometimes, the way our minds work, it's not what you've done but what you couldn't do that claim your attention. Those she saved owe a debt of gratitude and hopefully she can tone down the cries of the man who died in an accident. He died in an accident...not he died because she didn't save him.