The Mount Pleasant Police Department (SC) today released video of when an off-duty officer rescued a woman from her burning car while he was on his way home from work May 28.

Field Training Officer Doug Richards came across the accident scene around 1:30 a.m. on I-26 after a truck and the car collided. He saw smoke and flames coming from the wrecked car’s engine compartment and responded with the fire extinguisher from his patrol unit.  

 “I went to the vehicle, checked to see if anybody was in the vehicle, didn’t hear anything at first,” Richards tells NEWS2. “Felt like I might have gotten the fire out, went back around and heard somebody inside, made my way to the passenger side cause the driver’s side wouldn’t open and there was a female inside.”

Richards extinguished the flames and helped the woman from the wreckage. Initially, she told the officer her foot was stuck but working together she was able to exit the car. He has been presented the Life Saving Award from the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and a pin to wear on his uniform to symbolize his heroic actions.