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Foxborough, Mass. • Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork helped Massachusetts State Police tackle a problem nearly three hours after New England won the AFC Championship — getting an accident victim out of her car.
State troopers said they responded to an SUV rollover in Foxborough not far from Gillette Stadium shortly before 1 a.m. Monday and were surprised to see Wilfork checking on the driver. Hours earlier, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
Wilfork reached into the vehicle and helped troopers remove 38-year-old Mary Ellen Brooks of Hanson, authorities said, and then made sure police didn't need any more help before heading home.
"It wasn't a big deal," Wilfork said Monday. "It's just seeing somebody that needed help. I helped them."
Brooks was charged with drunken driving. A phone listing for her couldn't immediately be found Monday, and it wasn't clear whether she has a lawyer.
Wilfork said his wife was in the car with him, and they talked about it afterward.
"Things are a lot more precious in life than games or anything you accomplish," he said. "It showed last night. We won the AFC championship. There was a life in danger so we were just happy to help."
Wilfork, an 11-year veteran, said he didn't mention his role to teammates.
"It's not like, 'Hey, I saved the day,'" special teams captain Matthew Slater said after being informed of the incident. "He's been a pillar here of this franchise, a character guy who really, when you get to know the man, he's all about giving back."