CHARLOTTE — Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers who rushed to save a woman from a burning car on Aug. 16 recounted the intense moments with anchor Allison Latos.
Department of Transportation cameras shows a car that crashed on Fourth Street near uptown with a female driver trapped inside.
The officers said they didn’t hesitate, even with downed power lines hanging over the car.
“We've got to do something,” Officer Steve Faulkner said. “We just can't stand here and watch this person die in front of us.”
They were concerned, however, that the car could explode at any moment.
"That was the thought in my head the whole time," Officer Jonathan Colby said.
Colby grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the flames coming from the hood.
The driver's side door wouldn't budge but Faulkner and Officer Sangwon Lee were able to pull it open, freeing the woman from the inferno.
"We just let her grab our uniforms and we kind of lifted her up and dragged her out," Lee said.
They said they would put their lives on the line again to save another.
The driver, Paula Mann, 59, was charged with DWI and will be in court next month.
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