Dramatic Video Shows CHP Saving Man From SUV Engulfed In Flames

SOUTH LOS ANGELES, CA — The heroic actions of two California Highway Patrol officers were captured on body camera footage when they rushed to rescue an unconscious driver from a burning SUV in South Los Angeles.

The incident happened around 10:40 p.m. on July 3 when the male driver of the SUV ended up in a bank of trees and brush in an undisclosed location in South Los Angeles before the vehicle burst into flames, according to a KTLA report.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver was unconscious when officers arrived at the scene. In the body camera footage, an officer rushes to the SUV, where flames are shooting feet into the sky, and tries to break the vehicle's window with a baton. A second officer joins him shortly after and also begins to strike the window.

After several harrowing seconds, the officers manage to break the window, pry open the door and pull the driver from the blazing wreckage.

Moments after the man is removed from the SUV, a small explosion can be seen from the dashcam of a patrol car.

State police did not say what caused the crash. It's also unclear if the driver suffered any injuries.

"Thanks to these officers’ swift and courageous actions, they were able to prevent a casualty," the agency wrote on Instagram. "Every day, CHP officers embody our mission of safety, service and security, showing unwavering courage and compassion when it matters most."

The officers, identified as Officers Sal Leon-Brito and Manuel Gonzalez, were honored by the Los Angeles City Council following the incident.