An off-duty D.C. police officer pulled an injured man from a fiery crash on the Interstate 270 Spur in Bethesda, Maryland, late night Wednesday.
The D.C. police officer, on his way home from work, spotted a damaged pickup truck on the shoulder of the I-270 Spur north of Democracy Boulevard shortly before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer.
As the officer approached the vehicle, it “burst into flames,” said Piringer.
The officer pulled the man from the burning vehicle and began performing first aid until Montgomery County paramedics arrived, said Piringer.
The man, who Piringer said is “lucky to be alive,” was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Update – NB I270 Spur, prior to Democracy Blvd, single vehicle, single occupant, trapped/dazed & assisted out of burning vehicle by passing off-duty Metropolitan (DC) Police Officer prior to @mcfrs PE726 arriving, @MCFRS_EMIHS M750 transporting 1 adult Pri 1 trauma w/ LT injuries https://t.co/JsHEFmMpFb pic.twitter.com/SLdKah0nnT
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 28, 2020
All northbound traffic on the I-270 Spur was stopped for about 30 minutes while the truck fire, which had spread to nearby vegetation, was put out and a downed pole was moved off the road.
The right side of the spur remained closed while Montgomery County police investigated.
Police have not yet identified the cause of the crash.
WTOP has reached out to D.C. police for the identity of the off-duty officer who came to the victim’s rescue.
