Wrangler-Driving FCA Boss Lauded for Heroic Efforts at Accident Scene!

Ralph Gilles used his Wrangler to move a burning vehicle away from a crash scene, potentially saving someone’s life.

FCA design boss Ralph Gilles is one of the best-known executives due to his passion for the company and his active involvement in the Mopar community. Today, he is being called a hero after he and his Jeep Wrangler may have saved a life this past weekend, reports Michigan paper The Oxford Ledger.

The Accident

Early on the morning of February 18, Gilles and his wife, Doris, were driving home from a work event in a Jeep Wrangler when they came upon a nasty accident scene. (It is unclear whether he was driving an older JK or a new JL.)

A 2013 Ford Edge driven by a drunk 36-year-old man cross the center line and slammed into a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The 57-year old passenger died from the impact while the driver of the Fiesta was pinned in the crushed compact car. Gilles and his wife were the first to arrive at the accident scene, and after surveying the damage, he moved his Jeep away from the other vehicles.

While he was moving his Jeep, a 26-year old woman in a 1997 Buick LeSabre came motoring along and slammed into the Fiesta, shoving it up against the Edge. At that point, the Edge burst into flames. With both Ford vehicles leaking fluids and the driver trapped inside of the Fiesta, there was a risk of the fire spreading from the Edge.

Gilles knew that he had to do something, so he jumped into his Jeep Wrangler and used it to push the burning Ford away from the Fiesta. As a result, the fire did not spread to the occupied vehicle and the 60-year-old driver was removed by the fire department, although it took them 22 minutes. Based on that, it was clear that Gilles’ decision to move the wrecked Ford could have saved the life of the Fiesta driver.

Gilles’ Statement

Gilles has declined official statement through FCA, but he did post about the incident on Instagram while also including a short video of the accident scene.

“A long and sad night a week ago I will never forget,” writes Gilles. “By now many of you have read the story. We were first on the scene. I am NOT a hero, I think most people would have tried to help somehow. Understanding cars and their limitations may have played a factor sure. What ultimately turned out to be a 2 hour ordeal for us as we filled out Police reports, gave us a unique view of the whole process. It made us appreciate the true heroes. The first responders, Firemen/women, EMS and Police who deal with this stuff everyday day. It also made Doris and I realize how life can change in moments. Had I been standing in between the two crashed cars as I was just moments prior to the third car arriving. I likely would be part of history. Let’s all drive heads up all the time. My deepest condolences to the family of the woman who sadly passed away at the hospital.”

Gilles is well-liked in the Mopar world because he is a friendly, knowledgeable guy, but his actions followed by his statement deflecting praise to the first responders shows the quality of his character. He doesn’t want to be called a hero, but there is no denying that his actions here saved a life and that deserves some public praise.

You can check out the Instagram post below, showing the size of the fire created by the burning Ford Edge after Ralph Gilles pushed it clear of the accident with his Jeep Wrangler.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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