California Highway Patrol officers rescue man trapped in burning vehicle
Newly released video shows California Highway Patrol officers rescuing an unresponsive driver trapped inside a burning vehicle in July. (California Highway Patrol)
Newly released body camera footage has captured the dramatic moment California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers heroically rushed to rescue an unresponsive driver from a burning vehicle in South Los Angeles.
The state agency released the video Thursday highlighting the officers’ heroic actions during the July 3 incident.
In the video, an officer was seen rushing to a car already engulfed. Soon joined by colleagues, the officer used a baton to shatter the driver’s side window before pulling an unresponsive man to safety. Moments after the rescue, a small explosion erupted on camera.
"Our officers on routine patrol discovered this crash and immediately rushed in to check on the well-being of the occupant inside the burning vehicle," the CHP told Fox News Digital Saturday.
Officers smash a car window to save an unresponsive driver July 3, 2025, near Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)
CHP said the driver may have "experienced some type of medical emergency that caused him to veer off the freeway into an embankment and collide into a tree." The crash then caused the car to catch on fire, the agency added.
FOX 11 Los Angeles reported that the responding officer, Sal Leon-Brito, was on routine patrol when he spotted a car that crashed into a tree. By the time he arrived, the vehicle was already engulfed.
Leon-Brito told the local station he acted without hesitation.
"I didn't really think about what could happen to me. I just cared to see if there was anybody still in the car," he said.
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An officer rushing to an engulfed vehicle July 3, 2025, near Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)
In the video, Leon-Brito rushed toward the car as flames shot several feet into the air. He then used his baton to shatter multiple windows to check for passengers, FOX 11 reported.
"I took out my baton and broke the passenger side window. I didn't see no passengers. Broke the rear window, didn't see no passengers in the rear. It wasn't until I broke the driver's window that I saw a man unconscious," Leon-Brito said.
His partner also appeared to help pull the man away from the inferno. FOX 11 identified him as Officer Manuel Gonzalez.
CHP told Fox News Digital the driver was soon transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
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Multiple officers rescued an unresponsive driver from a burning vehicle July 3, 2025, near Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)
The two officers involved were recently recognized for their service by the Elks Lodge, a fraternal organization, according to FOX 11. Viewers who watched the video online also praised the officers for their heroic actions.
"In the face of danger, CHP - South Los Angeles officers acted without hesitation, breaking the windows of a burning vehicle using their rapid containment batons to rescue an unresponsive driver trapped inside," the state agency said Thursday.
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"Their swift and courageous actions saved a life and prevented what could have been a tragedy."
"Recognition is nice, but I'm just here doing my job really," Leon-Brito told FOX 11.
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