Dashcam captures deputy rescuing man from burning vehicle

A Brown County sheriff’s deputy rescued a man from a burning vehicle early Wednesday morning and it was all caught on his squad car’s dashcam.

Several Brown County deputies responded to Bellevue Street at Manderly Way in Green Bay just before 2 a.m. for a report of a vehicle on fire in the ditch with a man still inside, officials said.

A witness told officials the man was trying to get the vehicle out of the ditch while it was on fire and stayed inside the vehicle.

Deputy Zach Roush said the man was motionless inside the vehicle, and when he tried to warn him, the driver appeared to be dazed, would not cooperate with the deputy and refused to exit the vehicle on his own.

Roush eventually grabbed the man by the belt and pulled him from the vehicle, saving his life, officials said.

The fire and smoke was dangerous enough that he almost abandoned the rescue attempt for his own safety, according to the release. High winds had caused the flames and smoke to move in dangerous and unpredictable ways, making the approach to the vehicle dangerous.

Authorities said without Roush’s quick action, the incident would have ended in a fatality.

The driver, who is suspected of third-offense operating while intoxicated, was transported to Aurora Hospital for treatment and eventually booked into jail.