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Video: State trooper, deputy, bystanders pull woman from burning car

The trooper uses an ax to break the car’s window and then with assistance from bystanders, pushes the vehicle over from its side to extricate the driver

MSP Burning car rescue.png

State trooper, deputy and bystanders worked together to remove a woman, 73, from a burning vehicle.

Michigan State Patrol

By John Tunison
mlive.com

UPDATE: The 73-year-old Muskegon woman rescued from the crashed vehicle has died. Michigan State Police initially reported the woman was expected to survive.

MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — A state police trooper and bystanders worked together to rescue a woman from an overturned vehicle in Muskegon County.

The crash happened just before 1 p.m. Aug. 22 on West River Road east of Horton Road in Laketon Township.

Police said a 73-year-old Muskegon woman driving a 2018 Chevy Equinox went off the road after apparently having a medical event.

The police dash cam video shows a trooper arriving at the burning vehicle with a few bystanders already present.

https://twitter.com/mspwestmi/status/1562963835031801856

The trooper and bystanders tried to break out the windshield. The trooper used her hands, arms and feet on the windshield.

The trooper also used a fire extinguisher to try to douse the flames. At some point, a Muskegon County sheriff’s deputy arrived to help and used a second fire extinguisher on the flames.

Eventually, police worked with bystanders to upright the vehicle. State police said that, in all, they used five fire extinguishers to keep the flames contained during the rescue.

The driver was conscious and alert as the rescue was ongoing, but was trapped in the vehicle.

Once fire crews arrived at the scene, they were able to remove her from the vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital and was expected to survive.

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