First responders race to burning vehicle to rescue trapped driver
By: -----
Wise County, TX - A desperate rescue unfolded in the brutal triple-digit heat of Wise County when deputies raced down a steep, wooded embankment toward a vehicle that was fully engulfed in flames — and refused to give up on a man trapped inside.
The dramatic rescue happened around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the Methodist Church Camp site in Bridgeport, according to the Wise County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies were initially called after a vehicle was reportedly seen circling the caretaker's house. Witnesses said the driver was operating erratically before suddenly taking off deeper into the surrounding woods.
Deputies launched a drone to search the heavily wooded area.
What they found was a nightmare.
The vehicle was on fire.
Without hesitation, deputies ran toward the burning vehicle, making their way down a steep embankment as flames consumed the car.
But getting the man out proved even more dangerous.
Wise County Deputy Chief Eric Debus said the passenger resisted the first responders' efforts to pull him from the burning vehicle.
Deputies battled triple-digit temperatures, thick wooded terrain, intense flames and even a small explosion as they fought to reach the victim.
The conditions were so dangerous that both of the first deputies to arrive were later taken to the hospital as a precaution after experiencing difficulty breathing and possible smoke inhalation, Debus said.
The injured man ultimately was pulled from the vehicle and rushed for emergency medical care. Because of the severity of his injuries and burns, he was transported by medical helicopter.