Two Chicago Police Officers Pull Man From Burning Car
(CBS) -- Two Chicago police officers saved a man from a burning car this morning.
Officers Ricardo Gallegos and Szymon Hypta were on a routine patrol near 79th and Escanaba when they noticed some sparks coming from underneath a parked car.
"The car was on. It was parked. When we went to investigate we noticed that there was an occupant," Gallegos said.
The 54-year-old driver had fallen asleep while starting his car. Moments after the officers pulled the man from the vehicle the car burst into flames.
Officer Hypta says they were just in the right place at the right time.
"It feels good," he said. "You're out there trying to help somebody and at the end of the day I think he started crying before he left and he was very thankful to us."
The man is partially paralyzed on one side and was a bit confused but otherwise escaped uninjured.
The officers are three-year veterans and say they were just doing their jobs.