Driver Saved From Fiery Wreck After Flipping Car
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A fiery wreck in southwest Miami-Dade nearly cost a young man his life, if not for the brave rescue efforts by first responders.
The accident happened overnight on the northbound lanes of State Road 874/Don Shula Expressway.
Carlos Luis Aloma, 21, was driving with his headlights off, police said, when he lost control near the Palmetto Expressway merger, flipped his car several times and landed upside down.
Aloma was trapped inside.
Body-cam video show Miami-Dade Police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers struggling to pull him from the overturned car, just moments before it became engulfed in flames.
Officers said Aloma got lucky.
"There's no doubt that Christmas gift came early for Mr. Aloma and that's his life, through the heroic efforts of these officers," said FHP's Joe Sanchez. "They're trained for these special situations, they are there to help people. Some people run away from danger. We run towards danger. If we did not, we would be called cowards and would lose our jobs. They did what they are trained to do."
Aloma was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center in serious condition.