Video Shows Tennessee Police Officer Rescuing Unconscious Driver From Burning Car

A body camera video shows a Tennessee police officer rescuing an unconscious man from a burning vehicle following a crash.

The video was posted to Facebook by the Cookeville Police Department, which said the incident occurred on Monday at around 12:30 a.m. local time. The video was also posted to Twitter by CBS News.

Cookeville Police Officer David Baker was the first officer on the scene following reports of a motor vehicle crash, shortly after an ambulance from Putnam County Emergency Medical Services arrived, police said.

As the video begins, Baker can be seen rushing to the trunk of his patrol car to grab a fire extinguisher. He then runs toward the burning vehicle and is able to put out part of the fire. He is then informed by EMS paramedic Justin Remillard that the driver is still inside the vehicle.

The video shows Remillard opening the driver's side door of the burning vehicle and telling Baker, "Get him out, get him out."

"Officer Baker used a second fire extinguisher to hold back the flames on the driver side of the vehicle while Remillard opened the driver's door," the Cookeville Police Department said in the Facebook post. While Baker and Remillard were trying to open the driver's side door of the vehicle, the "driver side front tire exploded," the department said.

After Baker and Remillard were able to get the car door open, Baker used his "department issued seatbelt tool to cut the driver's seatbelt and pull the unconscious driver out of the burning vehicle to safety," police said.

Just before the video ends, Baker can be seen pulling the unconscious driver away from the vehicle to a safer location.

"Both Officer Baker and Paramedic Remillard showed great bravery by putting their own safety aside as they courageously took action to help save the life of the driver," the Cookeville Police Department said.

The Cookeville Fire Department also posted a photo of Remillard next to the burned vehicle on its Facebook page.

"Officer Baker and Paramedic Remillard pulled patient to safety and began providing care needed," the Cookeville Fire Department said in the post.

The Cookeville Police Department did not provide any information on what caused the crash and said the incident "remains under investigation."

"If anyone witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken with police, please call the Cookeville Police Department at 931-526-2125," the Facebook post said.

Newsweek reached out to the Cookeville Police Department for further comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.