Off-duty Dallas officer shares dash cam video of fiery rescue

DALLAS, Texas — The normal drive dwelling from work for Henry Vargas turned out to be any however. on Sept. 28. Vargas is an officer for the Dallas County District Hospital Police Department. 

When the off-duty officer headed dwelling final Tuesday on Interstate 30, Vargas got here throughout the sudden. It put him in a scenario the place he acted on pure instincts as a legislation enforcement officer. 

RELATED: Good Samaritan pulls lady from her truck moments earlier than it catches fireplace on freeway, police say

“I was driving on 30 and suddenly in front of me I see an explosion, a ball of fire,” mentioned Vargas.

That ball of fireplace turned out to be a automotive crash. There is video that additionally reveals a path of fireplace on the interstate video recorded by Vargas’ dash cam in his private automotive. Vargas pulled over instantly and in the identical video from his dash cam you possibly can see him operating in direction of the hazard as quick as he might in direction of the burning car. 

The truck was caught within the eastbound lanes of East R.L. Thornton Freeway near Jim Miller Road. Police on the scene advised WFAA photojournalist Mike Forbes that the driving force was calling for assist and her truck was hit by different autos.

“I ran towards the truck, and I noticed that there was a woman still inside,” mentioned Vargas. 

In the midst of the flames, Vargas might see the look on the trapped lady’s face and tried desperately to get the doorways open.

“I tried to open the driver-side door, but it was jammed shut,” mentioned Vargas, “I ran to the passenger side which was also jammed shut.”

Vargas observed the lady contained in the truck was probably too injured to flee on her personal. He might see contained in the cab of her pick-up which took on some of the affect from being hit from behind by one other car.  Vargas was capable of look the lady within the face. 

“There was just something about her look. She was in so much fear,” mentioned Vargas.

It’s a concern that ended up motivating Vargas to behave shortly. While attempting to get into the lady’s truck, he remembered he had an emergency rescue device in his private car. During an interview in regards to the incident, Vargas demonstrated how he used his “Glass Break Tool” on the truck as flames elevated by the second, together with the smoke.

“The smoke was getting thicker,” mentioned Vargas. “And I got a good whiff of it, and I just knew I need to get her out now before we were all engulfed in flames.”

Vargas entered the burning pick-up truck and rescued the lady.  

She advised him she was in ache, however she couldn’t readily describe all of her accidents. 

Vargas believes she could have been in shock. He additionally shared that after pulling her to rescue with the assistance of others, flames totally engulf the truck about one minute after the daring rescue.

It’s not clear what led as much as the truck being stalled or it catching fireplace, however the sheriff’s workplace was nonetheless investigating.