The voice behind one of television’s most beloved animated characters came terrifyingly close to death on Tuesday. Eugene Mirman, who plays Gene Belcher on Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers,” was seriously injured when his 2026 Lucid Gravity electric vehicle crashed into the Bedford Toll Plaza on the Everett Turnpike in New Hampshire and burst into flames. The accident occurred around 11:55 a.m., and for several agonizing minutes, Mirman was trapped inside the burning wreckage. But fate – and a heroic state trooper – intervened. According to New Hampshire State Police, Mirman (whose legal name is Yevgeny Mirman, age 51, of Massachusetts) was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing the car speeding northbound before it veered off the road and slammed into the toll booth. The impact immediately ignited the EV’s lithium-ion battery pack, sending flames shooting from the front of the car. “It was a chaotic scene,” said one witness. “I saw the fire and thought, ‘Nobody’s getting out of that.’” But someone did get out. A state trooper assigned to Governor Kelly Ayotte’s security detail happened to be passing by. Without waiting for backup or fire extinguishers, the trooper ran to the car, climbed onto the hood, and – with the help of two bystanders – broke the driver’s side window and pulled Mirman out through the opening. Governor Ayotte, who was in the vehicle behind the trooper, got out and retrieved a fire extinguisher, though she was never in danger. “The governor’s first instinct was to help,” said a spokesperson. “She’s incredibly proud of her security team.” Mirman was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. His publicist, Sheila Kenny, released a statement Wednesday: “Eugene was in a very scary car accident. He wants to thank the bystanders, state police, first responders and hospital staff who saved him. He is grateful to be recovering. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Eugene and his family as he focuses on recovering from his injuries.” The nature of his injuries has not been disclosed, but sources say he is expected to survive. Governor Ayotte posted about the rescue on X, writing: “I’m proud of the state trooper and bystanders who saved a life at yesterday’s crash scene in Bedford. It’s an example of the great work first responders do every day to keep New Hampshire safe and how Granite Staters always step up to help someone in need.” She did not name Mirman directly, but the post included a link to local news coverage of the crash. The incident has raised fresh questions about the safety of electric vehicles, particularly in high-speed crashes. Lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and can reignite hours later. The Lucid Gravity, a luxury EV that competes with Tesla’s Model X, has received top safety ratings from the NHTSA, but no crash test simulates a direct impact with a concrete toll booth at highway speeds. State police are investigating whether a medical emergency, mechanical failure, or driver error caused the crash. For fans of “Bob’s Burgers,” the news was a jolt. Mirman has voiced the eccentric, food-obsessed Gene Belcher since the show’s debut in 2011, appearing in over 300 episodes. His improvisational musical numbers and deadpan one-liners are a cornerstone of the show’s humor. Outside of animation, Mirman is a respected stand-up comedian and has guest-starred on shows like “Flight of the Conchords” and “The Simpsons.” He is married to actress and writer Holly Mirman, and they have two children. As of Thursday, Mirman remains hospitalized but is in stable condition. The “Bob’s Burgers” production team has not commented on whether his recovery will affect the show’s schedule. Fans have launched a #GeneStrong hashtag, sharing their favorite Gene moments and sending virtual cards to the hospital. “Eugene brought so much joy to millions of people,” one fan wrote. “Now it’s our turn to send joy back to him.” The Mirman family has requested privacy, but those close to him say he is in good spirits and cracking jokes – a sign that the comedian’s resilience matches his characters. We wish Eugene a full and speedy recovery. And we thank the heroes who pulled him from the flames.