Officers save impaired driver from burning vehicle

Officer Kelly Horne was traveling behind an Audi and observed the undercarriage of the vehicle was on fire. Officer Horne attempted to stop the vehicle but was unable to do so. As the vehicle continued to travel, the flames from the undercarriage began to intensify. The vehicle eventually came to a stop at which time Officer Horne notified Radio and exited his vehicle. Officer Horne approached the Audi and instructed the driver to exit the vehicle, but the driver would not comply. Officer Horne retrieved his fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire so he could remove the driver. The extinguisher was unsuccessful in putting out the fire; therefore, Officer Horne deployed his asp baton striking the passenger windows in an attempt to see inside the vehicle. At this time, backup Officer William Palmer arrived on the scene and attempted to extinguish the flames with his fire extinguisher. Officer Palmer diminished the flames enough to open the passenger door. The driver was instructed to crawl over to Officers Horne and Palmer. At this time, Officer Palmer began to pull the driver from the vehicle. Officers Horne and Palmer then dragged the driver away from the vehicle to safety. A short time later, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. It was then determined that the driver was impaired. Had he not been pulled to safety, the driver would not have survived the event.

Credit: Henry County Police Department