A Maryland teen has a Howard County police officer to thank for saving her life from her buring crash.
Cpl. Craig Ream was on his way to serve a warrant early Friday when he happened upon the crash on Md. 97.
When he wasn't getting anywhere with a fire extinguisher, he decided he had to take matters into his own hands. He crawled under the hood of a burning car and squeezed himself through a small opening to pull a teenager, according to The Patch.
After pulling the woman from the burning car, Ream and Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Gunnar Burdt carried her up a hill, away from the vehicle.
Casey Marie Bellofatto, 18, of Sykesville, was transported to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center where she is in critical condition.
Ream, an 11-year veteran of the police department, was covered with gasoline after the rescue. He was treated at a local hospital for burns, cuts and scrapes. He was later released.
"This took amazing courage," said Police Chief William McMahon. "I couldn't be more proud. We hear the word 'hero' used all the time, but Craig's actions this morning were truly heroic."
