Watch: DPS trooper pulls motorist from burning car in North Texas
A DPS trooper in Plano rescued a driver from a burning vehicle after an accident early Jan. 9, according to a video of the incident released by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The trooper, Cody Durham, was on routine patrol around 2:20 a.m. when he saw the wrecked, smoking vehicle in the northbound lanes of the Dallas Tollway near Spring Creek Parkway, officials said.
Video shows Durham opening the rear passenger door, entering the burning car and pulling on the driver until he was safely away from the fire.
“I believed once I started pulling, that was going to be the only way to get him out,” Durham said. “I just kept pulling and pulling until we were out of the car.”
Paramedics arrived and transported the driver to Medical City Plano for treatment, officials said. The Plano Fire Department extinguished the fire.
Paramedics also transported Durham to a local hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and later released.
“Trooper Durham courageously intervened to save a life, demonstrating the true essence of our commitment to the safety of Texans,” DPS North Texas Regional Director Jeremy Sherrod said in a news release. “His quick thinking and selfless action not only averted tragedy but also reaffirmed our belief in the profound impact that dedicated law enforcement officers have on the lives of those they serve.”
