A Lesson Well Learned: Life in the dangerous eyes of Justin Ryder

by Hannah Garcia

Massachusetts summer breeze, windows rolled down, and the sound of his baby cruising along the wide open road made all of his worries disappear.

Justin Ryder was living the dream riding in his brand new baby blue Mustang, laughing with his friends late last summer.

“The day was perfect, I had just bought my first car and basically lived in it,” Ryder said. “Nothing made me happier than cruising with my friends on a hot summer day.”

Ryder has always had a passion for sports cars. From an early age he would follow his father into the shop, intently watching him get his hands greasy, drinking a cold beer, and living every man’s dream.  

Justin Ryder's 1995 Mustang Cobra
Photo Credit: Justin Ryder 

“My dad worked on cars, my uncles worked on cars, cars were just part of my family,” Ryder explained. “This car meant everything to me, I never expected that I would lose it.”

On June 11, just short of a month of having his car, Ryder’s car was involved in a freak accident causing him to lose his Mustang.

“I was just driving down the highway enjoying my afternoon.” Ryder said. “It wasn’t until I exited that I saw the smoke cloud coming from the hood of my Mustang.”

Reaching down to push the cooling button, Justin realized how incredibly hot the front of the car was.

Smoke blowing everywhere, Ryder and his friends knew they had to get his Mustang off of the road.

“We pulled into the 7/11 and Justin was like, ‘Guys get out of the car right now!’” Passenger Brendan MacDonald explained. “We all jumped out and ran as fast as we could.”

Just moments later, Ryder’s beautiful baby blue Mustang went up in flames.

“All of the sudden I looked up, and there in my parking lot were a couple of young kids running around like crazy, car a blazin” Store manager Tommy Smolan said. “I didn’t really know what to do.”

Smolan called the fire department just as Ryder burst into the store yelling and screaming for a fire extinguisher.

“I watched as my most prize possession slipped away.” Ryder exclaimed. “Nothing was as heartbreaking as the sight of the black skeleton of my Mustang sitting there lifeless.”

According to Justin’s father, Ken Ryder, the previous owner of the car incorrectly installed the cooling fan causing the engine to overheat and catch fire.

“That’s the thing when you buy used cars, you never know what you are going to get.” Ken Ryder explained. “I was just glad that my son was safe.”

Since the day of the accident, Ryder has learned to cherish life in a completely different way. Appreciating every moment that is given to him, and a true believer of living in the “now” he still continues to expand on his love for cars.

“I almost died.” Ryder said. “If I would have been in that car for two more minutes we would have been dead. I have learned to cherish every moment given to me.”

Along with his new aspect on life, Ryder has also made the decision to rebuild his Mustang.

Mustang After Fire
Photo Credit: Justin Ryder

“I wasn’t going to let just one accident stop me.”  Said Ryder. “I will get back on that open road, only this time, I will know that my new Mustang is the perfect product of my own hands.”  

Click here to see: Justin's Mustang on Fire