Bodycam: Ohio Police Officers Save Trapped Driver, Battle Flames from Burning Car after Rollover Crash

One Cortland police officer dragged a trapped driver through a flipped vehicle's sunroof, and another officer worked to put out flames after the car caught fire following a crash.
Source Officer.com News
Jan. 5, 2026

What to know

  • Cortland police rescued a trapped driver from a burning vehicle after a rollover crash in Bazetta/Mecca Township on Dec. 27.

  • An officer broke through the sunroof to pull the seriously injured driver to safety while another officer worked to extinguish the fire.

  • The driver was treated by medics, and one officer sustained minor injuries but has returned to work.

Cortland, OH, Police Department
A Cortland, OH, police officer smashed a sunroof to reach a driver trapped inside a burning car.

Two Cortland, OH, police officers rescued a driver trapped inside a burning vehicle that caught fire after it crashed through a fence and flipped over Dec. 27.

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Bodycam: Mich. Police Officer, Deputy Save Man Moments Before Flames Engulf Crashed Car

  • Body camera footage captured a dramatic rescue as a Stockbridge police officer and Ingham County sheriff's deputy pulled a man trapped inside a car that crashed into a tree just before flames consumed the vehicle.

Ohio police officers saved a driver whose vehicle flipped on its side and caught fire following a crash late last month.

The rescue happened just after 11 p.m. Dec. 27 when Cortland Police Officer John Mosora and Chuck Lohry responded to a call about a fire in Bazetta/Mecca Township, the department stated in a news release. Once the officers reached the scene, they discovered a burning, flipped-over vehicle that had crashed through a fence.

With the driver was trapped inside the car, Mosora broke out the sunroof to reach the person. He then dragged the seriously injured driver to safety, while Lohry worked to extinguish the flames.

Body camera footage captured the officers' quick response and rescue.

“I was completely amazed at the courage and the calmness and the efforts that the two officers went through,” Chief David Morris told WKYC-TV. 

Multiple fire departments arrived to put out the fire, and medics treated the driver. Mosora suffered minor injuries, but Morris said he has returned to work.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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