Texas Officers Rescue Man from Fiery Crash 02-21-08

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BILL MILLER

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)

FORT WORTH -- Police officials are lauding two patrol officers who rescued a man from a flaming sports utility vehicle last week on Interstate 35W in south Forth Worth.

Images of the rescue were released Tuesday. The footage was captured by a dash camera video from a patrol car, said Lt. Paul Henderson, police spokesman.

The rollover accident was reported 1:15 a.m. Feb. 11 in the 9300 block of I-35W, between its intersections with Everman Parkway and West Risinger Road.

A 1994 GMC Yukon lost control, hit a concrete barrier and rolled, according to police reports. Smoke was pouring from the SUV as Officers Adam Coleman and Victor Tapia arrived, Henderson said.

"As officers approached, they realized that the driver was still inside the vehicle behind the wheel," said Henderson. "The Yukon burst into flames as (the officers) risked their lives by entering the burning vehicle and pulling the man to safety."

The driver, identified as Kane Gonzalez of Cleburne, was taken by ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital, Henderson said. His medical condition was unavailable a week later. He could not be reached for comment.

Henderson said the video is dramatic.

"After the rescue you can see the officers crouching to the ground, apparently trying to recover from the heat and the smoke," Henderson said.

He said he did not release the video earlier because the accident initially sounded like a routine single-vehicle wreck, and he did not see the video until Friday.

"Police officers nationwide risk their lives daily," he said. "and this is a shining example of bravery in the face of imminent danger shown by these two outstanding officers of the Fort Worth Police Department."

Dash Cam Video

Another Job Well Done

Edited February 24, 2008 by FFD941