CHICAGO, IL – Three federal officers assigned to ICE’s Denver Special Response Team rushed to save a man trapped in a burning car after witnessing a multi-vehicle crash in suburban Chicago on Thursday afternoon.
The accident happened around 3:20 p.m. Sept. 25 near Broadview, when a tractor-trailer collided with a small car, sparking a chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles. The ICE team, en route to the Broadview Detention Center, saw smoke pouring from one of the vehicles and immediately jumped into action.
Key Points
- Crash occurred Thursday afternoon near Broadview, Illinois, involving four vehicles
- ICE Special Response Team officers rescued a trapped driver from a burning car
- Driver hospitalized, officers treated for smoke inhalation and minor cuts
Life-saving rescue
Inside the smoking car, officers found an unconscious man strapped in by his seat belt, his legs pinned under the dashboard. Using tools and a breaching kit, they broke into the car, freed the man, and pulled him out just moments before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The officers remained with the driver until EMS crews arrived. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. The officers sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation and cuts from broken glass, and were cleared on the scene.
Elite unit steps in
ICE’s Special Response Teams are tactical units trained for high-risk law enforcement operations. Officials said the quick-thinking rescue highlighted the team’s emergency response readiness.
“The brave officers whose quick actions and emergency training saved a life during the recent car wreck exemplify what it means to be an ICE officer,” said Russ Hott, Chicago Field Office Director.
A fiery crash turned into a life-or-death rescue, with federal officers pulling a man to safety just in time.
