Columbus Officer Hailed as Hero for Rescuing Man from Burning Truck on Interstate

When a Columbus police officer saved a man from a flaming truck following a collision on a nearby freeway last Wednesday, she showed incredible bravery. Gloria West, an officer in her first year with the Columbus Division of Police, came upon the burning crash while responding to a 911 call.

Even though West had second-degree burns from the rescue, he described the terrifying experience without showing any signs of pride. West told FOX28, “We just have to do; we don’t really have time to think.” As West and her companion got closer to the blazing car, which had crashed after seemingly having brake issues, body camera footage showed how urgent the situation was.

After hitting a bridge close to Polaris, West’s actions were crucial in saving the life of a guy stuck inside his truck that burst into flames. West found an unlocked door and urged the man to grab her, according to an NBC4ireport. She clarified, “I just kind of pulled over everything I had,” Just before the flames grew more intense, the victim—who was still awake and had a shattered ankle—was dragged to safety.

Even though the man’s clothes were still burning after the successful extraction, West and her colleague tried to keep him calm until help arrived. West explained in a statement obtained by NBC4i, “We just kept him stable, kept talking to him, and made sure he stopped saying he was going to die and try to get some positive energy going on there.” Despite having shattered bones and burns, the rescued man was said to be in stable condition and was admitted to the hospital.

The official reason of the collision has not yet been determined by the Columbus Division of Police. However, the potential of a vehicle malfunction is being investigated by accident investigators. Officer West, whose hands are now bandaged, minimizes her bravery. “I was only carrying out my duties. Even as a police officer, I believe that if you have the ability to save someone’s life, you should do whatever it takes as a person,” West told WBNS.

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