Goodyear officer rescues woman from burning car
Goodyear PD officer pulls woman from burning car on I-10
Caught on camera, a Goodyear Police officer jumped into action and saved a woman's life. The officer rushed in to help when he came across a car fire on Interstate 10. FOX 10's Dominique Newland reports.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - A Goodyear Police officer is being hailed as a hero after saving a woman from a car fire along a Valley freeway, and the incident was caught on camera.
What we know:
The incident happened just before 4:30 a.m. on May 25 near Interstate 10 and 91st Avenue.
Police say the officer was returning to Goodyear after booking a suspect into jail when he came across a serious crash involving multiple vehicles. One of the vehicles was on fire and inside was the driver who was honking her horn, seeking help.
"He broke the driver’s side window and rescued the woman, whose hair was on fire, by pulling her from the burning car," police said.
The officer tried to put out the flames with his own hands, sustaining serious burns in the process. The officer ultimately used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
A Goodyear officer was caught on camera pulling a woman from a burning car on I-10. (Goodyear PD)
The woman, Asharie Cheatham, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. She is expected to survive.
"In an extraordinary twist of fate, the woman is the daughter of a Goodyear Firefighter," police said.
The officer, Dakota Berry, was also hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery.
What they're saying:
"You know, just simply doing my job," Officer Berry said on May 28 during a news conference. "End up hearing the car horn honking and immediately ran over to the driver side. At that time, I realized someone was still alive in the vehicle."
As the flames grew, Officer Berry grabbed a glass-breaking tool from his patrol car to smash the driver's side window. The glass shattered enough for the driver to kick through.
"He looked at me and simply said, ‘I’m just doing my job, sir.’ What a remarkable statement from a true hero," Chief Issitt said.
Officer Berry’s commitment to serve continued.
"He continued to do his job while he was injured. He put out flares to make sure that another collision did not happen on the freeway. This is a major highway where this happened, a major interstate," Mayra Reeson of the Goodyear Police Department said.
"This heroic and selfless act exemplifies the bravery and commitment of our officers to serve and protect, often at great personal risk. His quick thinking and fearless actions undoubtedly saved a life that morning," Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issitt said. "We are immensely proud of our officer’s courage. This incident is a powerful reminder of the strength of our public safety family and the extraordinary sacrifices made in service to others."
‘Please continue to keep her in your hearts and prayers’
"On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love, support, and prayers for my daughter Asharie as she begins the long journey of recovery following a tragic accident that left her with serious burns. Asharie is a remarkable young woman — courageous, determined, and full of life. Even in the face of unimaginable pain and challenge, her resilience shines through. Every day, she inspires us with her strength and will to heal. This road will not be easy, but Asharie has never backed down from adversity. With the continued outpouring of support from our community, and with God's grace, I have no doubt she will rise from this even stronger than before. Please continue to keep her in your hearts and prayers as we walk this path with faith, love, and hope," said Fire Captain Simeon Cheatham.
What we don't know:
The cause of the crash is unknown. Police did not say if anyone else involved in the crash was hurt.