TROY, Mo. – A Troy, Missouri police officer is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a man from a burning car over the weekend, likely saving his life.
Matt Schneider, a Troy Police Department K9 officer, responded to the crash around 5:40 p.m. Friday near Old Moscow Mills Road, shortly after the driver crashed into a large tree and the car went up into flames.
As responding officers and EMS personnel attempted to battle the blaze with fire extinguisher, Schneider ran toward the car “without hesitation” and rescued a trapped driver from the front passenger side, according to the Troy Police Department.
“In a remarkable act of courage, he successfully extracted the trapped driver from the front passenger compartment area and dragged him to safety, away from the rapidly intensifying flames which fully engulfed the entire front end of the vehicle,” said the department via Facebook.
“K9 Officer Schneider exemplifies the very best of our department,” said Jeff Taylor, Chief of the Troy Police Department. “His selfless actions and quick thinking undoubtedly saved this young man’s life.”
The rescued driver, a 23-year-old man, was treated at the scene for burns and rushed to a St. Luis hospital for further treatment.
Schneider will be formally recognized for his actions in a public ceremony Tuesday at Troy City Hall.