An unconscious woman trapped in a burning car that had crashed into electrical wiring was rescued by officers patrolling the area, California officials said.
The car had major front end damage and was “in direct contact with exposed electrical wiring from the traffic control cabinet” on Gage Avenue on Saturday, July 30, the Bell Gardens Police Department said in a news release.
Officers came across the dangerous scene just before 5 a.m. As they tried to get the 28-year-old woman out from the car, the engine compartment caught fire, according to police. Within seconds, the fire grew.
Officers used fire extinguishers to fend off the blaze, while others struggled to pull the woman from the car “as smoke and fire entered the passenger’s compartment,” police said.
“Officers continued to free the driver as the fire grew larger, after several minutes, they were finally able to pull her to safety,” police said.
The woman, who had “severe burns to her legs,” was treated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and taken to a hospital, police said.
Bell Gardens is about 12 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
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