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Dramatic video show officers rescue unconscious woman from burning vehicle

Posted at 1:10 PM, Nov 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-15 17:09:15-05

FARMVILLE, Va. – Dramatic body-camera video shows two Farmville police officers and two citizens rescue an unconscious woman from a burning vehicle after a crash early Friday morning.

Farmville Police responded at approximately 4:18 a.m. to a single-vehicle accident in the 1600 block of E. Third Street.

Officer D. P. Foley was the first officer to arrive at the scene where the back half of a 2016 Buick 4-Door was already engulfed in flames with heavy smoke coming from the passenger compartment.

Body-cam video shows the moment Foley approached the burning vehicle where he was met by a wall of smoke and flames.

After opening the door, Foley realized a woman was in the driver's seat. He cut off her seatbelt with a pocket-knife, before pulling her out of the vehicle.

A second officer, Officer O. A. Martin, arrived at the scene and searched the vehicle for other occupants.

Martin and two citizens assisted Foley in moving the unconscious woman to a safer distance from the burning vehicle.

The driver, a 57-year-old female woman was the only occupant of the vehicle. She was transported to Southside Community Hospital and eventually flown by helicopter to VCU Medical Center for her injuries. Police say her condition is critical but stable.

Police say the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Witnesses can send news tips, photos, and video here.

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