Watch Calif. Rookie Police Officer Save Driver from Burning Car

A California rookie police officer saved a man from a burning car following a crash this week.

The incident happened Sunday when a car caught fire in a traffic accident along Highway 101 in San Jose, KTVU-TV reports. Rookie San Jose Police Officer Pedro Garcia arrived at the scene before fire crews, and he quickly leaped into action when he found the driver still trapped inside.

"I was like, ‘Hey bro, let go, your car is on fire!’ Garcia told KTVU.

Video footage from a dashboard camera captured rushing to the vehicle, which was engulfed in flames. He's then seen pulling the man from the burning car and dragging his limp body to safety.

"What was going through my mind was just, 'I need to get him out now. Faster the better,'" Garcia told KTNV-TV. "I think it was just in seconds, the flames were getting hotter and bigger."

In fact, that intense heat made the rescue a challenge and made Garcia aware of how important it was to move quickly. 

"His shoes were melted to the floorboard," he said.

Once the driver was pulled to safety, he was treated by medics and taken to the hospital. Garcia, who has been with the department for eight months, was uninjured. 

"Heroes walk amongst us," the police department said in a statement. "There is no training for a moment like this. We put our lives on the line to save others. Fantastic job, Officer Garcia! We salute you."