SOUTHLAKE, TX — A Southlake police corporal says he was in the right place at the right time when he pulled a driver out of a car that had caught fire on State Highway 114 last month. Cpl. Joshua Swisher was responding to a traffic stop on June 7 when dispatch alerted him to a vehicle pouring out heavy smoke. Dashcam footage shows the car passing him on the highway before he followed it to the shoulder and stopped behind it. The vehicle then burst into flames as Swisher moved in to help.
How The Rescue Unfolded
Swisher said he first tried to open the driver’s door after directing the vehicle to the shoulder, but the handle broke off. Body camera and dashcam footage captured thick black smoke coming from the windows while the driver remained inside. Swisher said he could not see into the car because the smoke was so dense. He put on gloves and decided to break the window with his fist so he could reach the driver.
Once the glass shattered, he said he had an opening to get the man out. Video shows Swisher dragging the driver from the car as flames spread through the vehicle. The fire quickly overtook the car after the rescue. Swisher said the moment the window broke gave him relief because he knew he had a way to remove the trapped driver before the situation got worse.
Driver Walks Away Safe
The driver was the only person in the car, according to Swisher. He was shaken after the rescue but was able to walk away without serious injuries. Swisher said he was focused on getting the driver out before the vehicle went fully up in flames. He described the event as unusual, saying not every shift brings that kind of danger. The officer said the outcome mattered most because the driver made it out alive.
The footage shared by the Southlake Police Department shows how quickly the situation changed once the car was stopped. What started as a smoke investigation became a life-threatening emergency within moments. Swisher said the sequence left little time to think. His account matches the video released by the department, which documents the rescue from approach to escape.
Department Honors Swisher
Southlake police recognized Swisher with the Meritorious Conduct Award, the department’s second-highest honor. The award is given to police employees who show exceptional courage, professionalism and performance while facing significant danger. The department said Swisher’s actions that day fit that standard because he moved quickly and put himself at risk to save the driver…