
A Tuesday morning drive turned into a nightmare for actor and comedian Eugene Mirman when his electric vehicle crashed into a toll plaza on a New Hampshire highway and burst into flames.
Trapped inside the burning car, Mirman, best known as the voice of Gene Belcher on Fox's "Bob's Burgers," was moments from catastrophe. But a chance encounter with New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte's security detail turned tragedy into a story of survival. A state trooper, the governor herself, and other bystanders pulled Mirman through a window to safety. Now hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Mirman is "grateful to be on the mend" as investigators work to determine what caused the crash.
According to the New Hampshire State Police, the incident occurred just before noon on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in Bedford, New Hampshire. Mirman, 51, of Massachusetts, was driving a 2026 Lucid Gravity, a high-end electric SUV, northbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle struck the Bedford toll plaza.
The impact was severe. The Lucid Gravity caught fire almost immediately, with flames engulfing the vehicle and Mirman trapped inside. It was at that moment that Governor Kelly Ayotte and her security detail came upon the scene. A veteran state trooper assigned to the governor's detail, along with Ayotte and other bystanders, acted without hesitation. They pulled Mirman from the burning car through a window.
State Police Colonel Mark Hall described the rescue in stark terms: "Certainly, their actions were heroic in what they did. Without hesitation, they put themselves in danger to render aid to someone who was in need of it."
Mirman was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. His agent, Jay Glassner, confirmed the incident in a brief statement on Wednesday.
"Eugene was in a very scary car accident," Glassner said. "He wants to thank the bystanders, state police, first responders and hospital staff who saved him. He is grateful to be on the mend. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Eugene and his family as he focuses on recovering from his injuries."
The New Hampshire State Police confirmed that Mirman remained hospitalized as of Wednesday evening, but that his injuries, while serious, are not considered life-threatening. No charges have been filed, and the single-vehicle crash remains under investigation.
Governor Ayotte, a Republican who took office in 2025, posted on social media that she was proud of the trooper and the bystanders who "saved a life" at the scene. In a statement, she said she and her husband were praying for the driver's recovery.
"I want to thank the Trooper on my security detail and the bystanders who stepped up to help at the scene of the crash for their brave lifesaving efforts," Ayotte said. The identity of the trooper has not been released, but Colonel Hall praised the officer's quick thinking. "He saw someone in need and acted," Hall said.
The crash remains under active investigation by the New Hampshire State Police. Several key questions are still unanswered:
For those unfamiliar with the name, Eugene Mirman is a beloved figure in comedy and animation. Born in Moscow and raised in Massachusetts, he has been a mainstay of alternative comedy for two decades. He is best known for voicing Gene Belcher, the keyboard-obsessed, food-loving middle child on Fox's "Bob's Burgers,” a role he has played for over 300 episodes since the show premiered in 2011.

Beyond "Bob's Burgers," Mirman has appeared as Eugene on HBO's "Flight of the Conchords," voiced Cecil Tunt on "Archer," and guest-starred on "Broad City," "Inside Amy Schumer," and "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." He is also a stand-up comedian and the creator of the sitcom "Delocated."
This incident, while fortunate in its outcome, offers several important lessons for all drivers.
We are relieved that Eugene Mirman survived this terrifying ordeal. We extend our gratitude to the quick-acting rescuers—Governor Ayotte's trooper, the governor herself, and the unnamed bystanders who ran toward danger to save a stranger.
And we wish Mirman a full and speedy recovery. As his character Gene Belcher might say: This is the kind of drama no one needs. Get well soon.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a serious car crash, the independent attorneys we connect you with have the experience to investigate the cause, navigate insurance claims, and fight for the compensation you need to recover—physically, emotionally, and financially.

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