Off-duty Los Angeles bomb squad officer Don Thompson rescued a 72-year-old man from his burning station wagon after a freeway crash on Christmas, The Associated Press reported. Thompson was treated for "serious injuries, including first and second degree burns plus smoke inhalation and abrasions after pulling a man in his 60s from his burning vehicle Wednesday," The AP also reported.
The 26-year-department veteran was driving to work on Interstate 405 when he saw the station wagon on the other side of the free way crash into the divider and burst into flames, The AP also reported. He "stopped his bomb squad truck, jumped over the divider, cut the unconscious man from his seatbelt, and pulled him out," The AP also reported. Two other drivers helped the man also from the wreckage, according to news reports.
"It doesn't feel real when you're doing something like that," said LAPD Bomb Squad Officer Don Thompson, who was driving south on the 405 Freeway when he saw the crash.
"You know you have to do something and save someone's life, or you're going to watch someone burn to death alive. You have to do what you have to do," Thompson added.
"He only had maybe 10, 15 seconds to be saved. Just out of the grace of God I was there," Thompson said. "We had some good Samaritans there. He made it."
"Flames and black smoke could be seen pouring into the air as they rushed to carry the man to safety," according to The AP.
The man was taken to the hospital and survived, California Highway Patrol officials said. Officer Thompson was treated for minor burn injuries.
It was not clear what caused the driver to crash.
