State Troopers Rescue Woman From Burning SUV
UPDATED 03/05/12 6:22 a.m.
DOLTON, Ill. (CBS) -- A 34-year-old woman is facing drunken driving charges, after two Illinois State Police troopers were injured while pulling her out of her burning sport-utility vehicle on I-94 in Dolton over the weekend.
As WBBM Newsradio's Michele Fiore reports, police suspect Tamara Jackson was speeding southbound on the expressway when she took the Sibley Boulevard exit around 4 a.m. Sunday. Her black 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe lost control and struck a tree.
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The SUV caught fire and the driver was trapped inside.
Illinois State Police District Chicago Sergeant Henry Spight and Trooper Jacqueline Del Villar arrived on scene and found the Tahoe engulfed in flames, state police said.
"When I looked inside, both of her legs were stuck underneath the dashboard," Del Villar siad.
Witnesses told them the driver was trapped, and Spight and Del Villar had to pull her out of the burning vehicle.
"At that time, a bystander came to assist, and we attempted to pull her out of the vehicle, and at that time, Sergeant Spight arrived on scene," Del Villar said.
Added Spight, "The driver's compartment had flames coming toward the victim's legs, and I ran to the back of my car in my trunk – we carry fire extinguishers – ran up to the vehicle and started to douse her legs."
Both Spight and Del Villar suffered burns and cuts to their hands, as well as smoke inhalation. Both officers were treated at an area hospital.
Jackson, of Chicago, was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Jackson has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
