Officer burned rescuing woman from fiery I-10 crash near Phoenix

A Goodyear police officer suffered serious burns while rescuing a woman trapped in a burning vehicle.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — A Goodyear police officer suffered serious burns while rescuing a woman trapped in a burning vehicle following a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near 91st Avenue.

The unnamed officer was returning from Phoenix after booking a suspect when he encountered the fiery crash scene. The trapped woman, later identified as the daughter of a Goodyear firefighter, was honking her horn to alert people she was still inside the engulfed vehicle.

The officer quickly grabbed a multi-tool and broke the car window, allowing the woman to kick out the remaining glass. He then pulled her feet-first from the burning vehicle.

According to Goodyear Police, the woman’s hair was on fire during the rescue. The officer attempted to extinguish the flames with his hands, suffering serious burns in the process. He then used a fire extinguisher to put out the remaining fire on the victim.

The woman was rushed to a nearby burn center in critical condition but is expected to survive. The officer was also taken to a burn center and is expected to make a full recovery.

Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issitt praised the officer’s actions in a statement: “His quick thinking and fearless actions undoubtedly saved a life that morning. We are immensely proud of our officer’s courage.”

Goodyear Police said the victim’s family is not in condition to speak at this time. 12News has reached out to speak with the heroic officer.

The incident highlights the split-second decisions law enforcement officers face and their commitment to protecting the community, even when off-duty or returning from other calls.

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