Two Sacramento Police Officers rescued a teenager who was trapped in his burning car.

On December 22, 2009, at 12:50 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department received a call of a car accident near Riverside Boulevard and Darnel Way.  Officer Matt Suehowicz was first to arrive at the scene, observing the front end and passenger compartment of a 1998 Green Ford Expedition fully engulfed in flames with a male subject trapped inside.  Officer Suehowicz quickly grabbed his fire extinguisher in order to get the flames back far enough to rescue the victim.   Officer Suehowicz attempted to grab the driver out of the car, but could not due to the victim's legs being trapped.  Officer Richard Kawasaki arrived on scene shortly after and the two officers were able to pull the victim out of the car to safety. 

The victim sustained major injuries and burns.  Sacramento Fire Department transported the 17-year-old victim to an area hospital.  The Sacramento Fire Department indicated that if not for the actions of the officers, the driver would have died. 

"We are thankful for the two officer's ability to rescue the victim under the dire conditions they were faced with and are very proud of their heroic actions.  This situation also brings to light the type of heroism that the men and women of the Sacramento Police Department display regularly in our community" said Deputy Chief Sam Somers.