City of Austin
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Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
The Austin Police Department (APD) is proud to recognize Officers Eduardo Pineda and Chandler Carrera for their heroic efforts on Monday, May 24, 2021 when they removed a man from a burning vehicle before it exploded, saving his life.
Several 911 calls came in regarding an unconscious man inside of a burning truck with his foot on the gas pedal in the 1000 block of W. Stassney Lane. Officers Pineda and Carrera arrived on scene within two minutes of being assigned the call. The truck was close to a nearby apartment building and became fully engulfed with the man still inside. Officers Pineda and Carrera tried to make contact with the man and broke the windows to the fully engulfed truck and pulled the man to safety to receive medical treatment from Austin-Travis County EMS.
Shortly after pulling the man to safety, the truck exploded. The Austin Fire Department was on scene and was able to put the fire out.
Footage from Officer Pineda's and Carrera's body worn cameras: