A Southlake, Texas police corporal is being hailed for his quick actions after rescuing a driver from a vehicle engulfed in flames on June 7. The incident occurred on Highway 114 when the driver's Nissan Altima suddenly caught fire.
Corporal Joshua Swisher was handling an unrelated traffic stop nearby when he was alerted to the escalating situation. Dashcam and bodycam footage released by the Southlake Public Safety Department shows Swisher approaching the smoking vehicle on the highway's left shoulder. The car began to burst into flames shortly after he arrived.
"I could not even see inside the vehicle," Swisher recounted to Fox 4. "The only thing I saw was hands, and it was the driver trying to get his door open from the inside."
The officer attempted to open the driver's door, but the handle broke off. In a critical maneuver, Swisher instructed the driver to exit through the window and used a window-breaking tool to create an opening. He then pulled the man to safety just as the car became fully engulfed in fire. An inspection confirmed no one else was inside the vehicle.
The driver did not sustain any injuries. Swisher reportedly suffered minor burns to his arm hair during the rescue.
For his actions, Swisher was awarded the Southlake Police Department’s Meritorious Conduct Award, the department's second-highest honor. He stated that he believes any officer in his department would have acted similarly in the same circumstances.