Video shows people forming human chain to rescue man from burning SUV in Florida

Dramatic cellphone video captured a group of good Samaritans forming a human chain to rescue a driver from a burning SUV in Florida.

Witnesses told CBS affiliate WKMG that a red Jeep Cherokee rear-ended another car and drove into an embankment on Sunday in Palm Bay.

Witness Tom Sais and a group of others got to the vehicle as it was burning.

“Start climbing on through and there he was up in the air, hanging still strapped into his seat belt, hanging sideways,” Sais told the station.

Shortly after police arrived on scene with fire extinguishers, the driver was pulled out of the car. The group then formed a human chain to get the driver to the top of the embankment.

“Grabbed onto his belt, kind of pushing him, kind of hanging onto him, dragging this guy with whatever we had and made it up to the top,” Sais said.

Sais told WKMG that Palm Bay police had to Taser the driver, who was resisting help. The man was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Shannon Perez captured the video on her cellphone.

“I think it’s good that the police get, you know, some coverage of how they are heroic and they save lives, and I think that’s amazing,” Perez told WKMG.

Citizen Assisted Rescue

Palm Bay Police Sgt. Steve Shytle and Ofc. Ryan VanNote responded to a vehicle crash earlier this afternoon where they found one vehicle over the embankment and on fire. Several citizens assisted in pulling the officers and the driver to safety. Palm Bay Fire-Rescue responded and provided medical treatment to the driver. The driver was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Thank you Shannon Perez for sharing this video with us.

Posted by Palm Bay Police and Fire Departments on Sunday, October 16, 2016
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