CHANDLER, AZ - Thanks to the quick life-saving actions by a police officer and firefighter, a woman's life was saved after her vehicle burst into flames from being hit head-on by a cement truck.
According to NBC24, the violent crash caused the woman's vehicle to burst into flames and flip over. Motor Officer Brian Larison came upon the crash just before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18th. Without any hesitation, he broke the window with his baton and with the help of an off0duty Peoria firefighter, they were able to pull the woman to safety.
In a statement, the Chandler Police Department (CPD) said, "Motor Officer Brian Larison didn't hesitate when he saw a woman trapped in a burning vehicle on U.S. 60 near Val Vista." CPD added, "This is the kind of dedication and bravery our officers bring to the job every day." Authorities confirmed that a cement truck crashed into the back of a Nissan pick-up, causing it to roll over during morning rush hour.
The firefighter, identified as Asa Paguia, said that he was on his way to work a shift at the Peoria Fire Department (PFD) and happen to have his firefighting equipment on hand. Paguia said, "I just worked an overtime shift yesterday, so that's why I had my gear with me. So I thought I could make a difference, stopped, opened my trunk and put my gear on."
Both Larison and Paguia are Marine veterans and said that it is simply part of their jobs to risk their lives to save others; it is second-nature to them. Speaking with Fox10 Phoenix, Larison said, "My contract says payable with my life, if necessary. Just know we're not just putting the badge on and going to work, you know? We're human beings, we have emotions and our job is every one of you to make sure you're okay."
The woman who has since been identified as Aymee Ruiz, was saved has been reunited with the brave first responders who rescued her. The reunion took place in Chandler during the afternoon hours on Thursday, February 20th. Paguia said, "She clung to me on the side of the road and I just held her. I just told her I had her."
During a news conference, Ruiz thanked Larison and Paguia for what they did, calling what the two did on that fateful day "heroic." She said, "My heart felt full, seeing their faces again. There's really no words to describe it. How do you say 'thank you' like that? What do you say besides 'thank you?'"
She then recounted what happened in the lead-up to the fiery crash. She said traffic came to a stop on the freeway after dropping her kids off at school and when she looked in her rearview mirror, she saw a cement truck coming towards her. She said she immediately called her husband. She said, "That's when I noticed all the fire in the back of the cab or the back of the bed, slowly creeping up to the cab and from there, I just started screaming for help."
She said, "It was already scary enough being trapped there. I really didn't think I was going to make it out. That was just the most mortifying moment of my life. I can't stop reliving it in my head." Ruiz recalled the moments Larison and Paguia jumped into action, saying, "I remember him breaking in and getting my foot out there, almost getting out. Then the truck all of a sudden getting back on all fours and me getting pushed back in. I just, from there, I started feeling way more heat. I actually like, felt my hair, just start lighting on fire. Then I just felt my whole face just get hot. I closed my eyes so tight, was just so many fumes and smoke and fire."
She said the incident changed her whole perspective on life. She said, "Now, I'm just going to be living my life in fear These careless drivers almost cost me my life. I seriously could died in there a slow, painful death. I can't even imagine burning to death like that, for my family to remember me that way."
According to NBC24, the violent crash caused the woman's vehicle to burst into flames and flip over. Motor Officer Brian Larison came upon the crash just before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18th. Without any hesitation, he broke the window with his baton and with the help of an off0duty Peoria firefighter, they were able to pull the woman to safety.
In a statement, the Chandler Police Department (CPD) said, "Motor Officer Brian Larison didn't hesitate when he saw a woman trapped in a burning vehicle on U.S. 60 near Val Vista." CPD added, "This is the kind of dedication and bravery our officers bring to the job every day." Authorities confirmed that a cement truck crashed into the back of a Nissan pick-up, causing it to roll over during morning rush hour.
The firefighter, identified as Asa Paguia, said that he was on his way to work a shift at the Peoria Fire Department (PFD) and happen to have his firefighting equipment on hand. Paguia said, "I just worked an overtime shift yesterday, so that's why I had my gear with me. So I thought I could make a difference, stopped, opened my trunk and put my gear on."
Both Larison and Paguia are Marine veterans and said that it is simply part of their jobs to risk their lives to save others; it is second-nature to them. Speaking with Fox10 Phoenix, Larison said, "My contract says payable with my life, if necessary. Just know we're not just putting the badge on and going to work, you know? We're human beings, we have emotions and our job is every one of you to make sure you're okay."
The woman who has since been identified as Aymee Ruiz, was saved has been reunited with the brave first responders who rescued her. The reunion took place in Chandler during the afternoon hours on Thursday, February 20th. Paguia said, "She clung to me on the side of the road and I just held her. I just told her I had her."
During a news conference, Ruiz thanked Larison and Paguia for what they did, calling what the two did on that fateful day "heroic." She said, "My heart felt full, seeing their faces again. There's really no words to describe it. How do you say 'thank you' like that? What do you say besides 'thank you?'"
She then recounted what happened in the lead-up to the fiery crash. She said traffic came to a stop on the freeway after dropping her kids off at school and when she looked in her rearview mirror, she saw a cement truck coming towards her. She said she immediately called her husband. She said, "That's when I noticed all the fire in the back of the cab or the back of the bed, slowly creeping up to the cab and from there, I just started screaming for help."
She said, "It was already scary enough being trapped there. I really didn't think I was going to make it out. That was just the most mortifying moment of my life. I can't stop reliving it in my head." Ruiz recalled the moments Larison and Paguia jumped into action, saying, "I remember him breaking in and getting my foot out there, almost getting out. Then the truck all of a sudden getting back on all fours and me getting pushed back in. I just, from there, I started feeling way more heat. I actually like, felt my hair, just start lighting on fire. Then I just felt my whole face just get hot. I closed my eyes so tight, was just so many fumes and smoke and fire."
She said the incident changed her whole perspective on life. She said, "Now, I'm just going to be living my life in fear These careless drivers almost cost me my life. I seriously could died in there a slow, painful death. I can't even imagine burning to death like that, for my family to remember me that way."
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