The Chula Vista (California) Police Department has released body camera footage capturing the heroic moment officers pulled a man from a burning car on the night of Oct. 13.
According to a release, on the night of October 13th, multiple 911 calls came in about the fire on Interstate 5.
Freeway calls are typically transferred to the California Highway Patrol. But police say the calls caught the attention of a Chula Vista police sergeant who was listening. Fearing that CHP wouldn’t arrive in time, the sergeant put in an urgent call for officers nearby.
Officer Donald Truong was the closest and arrived as the first officer on scene, 10News reports.
“I immediately went down the hill, down the embankment towards the car. I took out my baton and immediately started smashing the back window…that way I could get some air for this guy,” said Truong. “I heard this guy burning. I could hear his screams…my priority was to save this man. To get him out as soon as possible.”
Truong says as he was working to get the man out, his partners arrived and jumped in to help.
Working together, they were able to pull the man to safety.
