CHARLTON, Mass. - Charlton resident Russell Jennings is being hailed as a "hero" after he and four other people helped rescue a mother and her two children Monday following a serious crash on Route 20.

"The car was in bad shape," Jennings said. "It was starting to catch fire. The driver was hanging out of it. I came running up to it and asked the lady if there was anything else inside she said, 'Yes, my two kids.'" 

The Charlton Police Department said the vehicle rolled over before it caught on fire after driving through a stream of water on Worcester Road during the heavy rainfall.

Jennings said he happened to be near the area during the accident and helped escort the family out of the car before police arrived on the scene.

"The lady was taking one of the children out of the car already, so I tried to get the other kid out the side, but I couldn't," he said. "So I went back around to the driver's side and finally managed to open the door, get the second kid out, brought him to where the other kid was."

Jennings said it was instinct taking over in what could have been a life threatening situation, and he hopes to be there to support his community in the future if the opportunity ever presents itself again.

"Fireman, policeman do that every single day of the week," he said. "So I'm happy to help out when I can and always around to do so."

The family was taken to a hospital in Worcester after the crash. Charlton police said as of Wednesday afternoon they did not have any update on how they are doing.