ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County firefighters honor four good Samaritans who came up on a fiery crash in July and pulled a law enforcement officer out of the burning car.
Sergeant Jamie Hoffman's patrol car crashed on State Road 408 near Pine Hills Road in July of 2018.
Officials said Sgt. Hoffman came behind a car that was nearly at a complete stop and could not slow down his patrol car in time to avoid collision.
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Not only were they trying to hurry and get the deputy out before the flames took over, but his cruiser was burning in the middle of the 408.
"We should really recognize the folks that put their lives on the line to save a life," said Chief Otto Drodz, with Orange County Fire Rescue.
The strangers did just that for a man who risks his life for our community every day.
On her way to church, one of the honorees said she realized God had other plans.
"I backed my car up and ran across the median, hopped over it, and we opened the door, and he was laid out on his passenger's side," said Lastar Bruce.
Together, ER nurse Bruce and military vet Don Townsend, rescued Orange County Sgt. Jamie Hoffman from the fiery crash.
"We see Lastar in this beautiful white dress. She has leaped over, and she has pulled this police officer out of his car,” said Linda Steward. “She has absolutely no concern for herself."
"When I woke up, I remember them trying to pull me out of the car," Hoffman said.
About that time husband and wife Harrison and Steward jumped in with their young kids waiting in the car.
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"We don't typically like to move injured people, but at that point in time, for his safety, our safety, we said we've got to move him away from the fire," Steward said.
Harrison, a former paramedic, had a medical kit with him - and the heroic team put pressure on Hoffman's bleeding head.
"They're my saviors. They saved my life,” said Hoffman. “I don't know if I would've gained enough consciousness to get out of the vehicle on my own without their help before I got burned up."
Just two weeks before the crash, a man climbed up on an overpass trying to take his own life and Hoffman stepped in and talked him down.
He saved a life that day, and the favor was soon returned.
We’re about to meet and hear from four good samaritans who pulled an @OrangeCoSheriff deputy out of a burning car! @OCFireRescue responded to the crash & is recognizing these men and women for saving the deputy’s life! I’ll have their account of the scene on @WFTV at noon. pic.twitter.com/y724ZNFxA7
— Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) February 7, 2019
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