A police officer is being recognized after authorities say he saved a man from a vehicle after a fiery crash on Interstate 40 last week. The Stigler Police Department said in a social media post that on Aug. 20, Assistant Chief John Vail was traveling on Interstate 40 east of Sallisaw when he saw a white vehicle speed past him. Moments later, the car lost control, veered off the road, and crashed into several trees.
According to the post, Vail rushed to the scene and found the vehicle on fire with the driver trapped inside. In heavy smoke and spreading flames, he made several attempts to free the man before running back to his patrol unit to grab a fire extinguisher. Authorities say Vail used the extinguisher to push back the flames long enough to reach the driver. With help from Officer Cantrell of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Vail was able to pull the man from the wreckage moments before the vehicle was fully engulfed. Chief Gary Ballinger said Vailโs โextraordinary courage, quick thinking and unwavering determinationโ saved the driverโs life.
