Former Marines rescue mother from burning truck on Arizona highway
The collision that sparked heroism
On February 18, 2025, a routine Monday morning on U.S. 60 in Mesa turned into a life-or-death situation when a cement mixer collided with Ruiz's pickup truck. The impact sent her vehicle careening across lanes before it burst into flames.
Officer Brian Larison was first on scene, with off-duty firefighter-paramedic Asa Paguia stopping to help. Both men, former Marines with combat experience, would need every bit of their training for what came next.
"I won't let you burn!"
The door was jammed from the impact. Smoke filled the cabin. Flames licked at the windshield. But the two Marines-turned-first responders refused to give up.
"The Marine Corps teaches you to never leave anyone behind," Paguia later explained. "That training kicked in. We weren't leaving without her."
Seconds to spare
Working in perfect synchronization despite never having met before, Larison and Paguia managed to pull Ruiz free just as flames fully engulfed the cabin. Video shows them dragging her to safety as the truck became a fireball behind them.
An emotional reunion
Two days later, Ruiz met her rescuers in an emotional reunion at the Mesa Fire Department. Through tears, the mother of three expressed what their actions meant.
"They didn't just save my life," Ruiz said, her voice breaking. "They saved my children's mother. They saved my husband's wife. They saved my parents' daughter. There are no words to describe my gratitude."
Ruiz suffered burns and smoke inhalation but made a full recovery — an outcome that seemed impossible when viewing the helmet camera footage.
Recognition for valor
Both men received the Medal of Valor from their respective departments, Mesa's highest honor for heroic action. Fire Chief Scott Dobbs noted it was extraordinary for an off-duty member to receive such recognition.
"These men exemplified everything we hope for in first responders," Chief Dobbs stated at the ceremony. "They ran toward danger when others would run away."
The Marine connection
Both rescuers credit their Marine Corps background for their ability to act decisively under extreme pressure. Larison served in Iraq, while Paguia completed tours in Afghanistan.
"In combat, you learn to act despite fear," Larison explained. "You focus on the mission. That day, the mission was getting Aymee out alive."
Their military bond created instant teamwork. "We didn't need to talk much," Paguia noted. "Marines just know how to work together."
Inspiring a community
The rescue has resonated throughout Mesa and beyond. The fire department reported a surge in recruitment inquiries, with many citing the rescue as inspiration.
"If these men can risk their lives for a stranger, I want to be part of that brotherhood," wrote one applicant, a recent Marine veteran himself.
The lasting impact
Ruiz has become an advocate for first responder support, organizing fundraisers for fire and police departments. She keeps photos of Larison and Paguia in her home, daily reminders of her second chance at life.
"Every morning when I wake up, every time I hug my kids, I think of them," she shares. "They gave me all my tomorrows."
For Larison and Paguia, the rescue was just another day's work — albeit an extraordinary one. They've returned to their regular duties, Larison patrolling Mesa's streets and Paguia responding to fire calls.
But their actions on that February morning serve as a powerful reminder of the courage first responders display daily, and how military service often creates heroes who continue serving long after hanging up their uniforms.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine," Paguia says simply. "We just traded one uniform for another, but the mission remains the same — protecting and serving."