Springfield officers save man’s life after police chase, fiery crash

The Springfield Police Department has bestowed two of its officers with the Life Saving Award for saving a man’s life moments after he crashed his car while fleeing other officers.

Springfield Police officials said that on Feb. 19, an officer tried to pull the man over on Washington Street for reckless driving; he refused to stop and drove away at high speed. The man eventually turned onto Monroe Street and crashed near 5th Street. His car’s front engine compartment burst into flames upon impact, and the man was knocked unconscious.

Officials said Officers Joseph Felchner and Jared Piatt were near the scene of the crash and quickly responded. Footage recorded by Piatt’s body camera showed what happened next.

Arriving on the scene, Piatt got out of his squad car, ran toward the burning car and opened the driver’s side door. Pushing the side airbags out of the way, Piatt pulled the man out of the car, with Felchner assisting. As Felchner dragged the man away, Piatt made sure no one else was in the car.

“Both officers showed exceptional bravery by not only confronting a vehicle fire, but also approaching a vehicle that had evaded officers for unknown circumstances,” officials said in a news release. “The rapid response by both Officers Piatt and Felchner, along with the seamless transition to that of emergency medical aid, undoubtedly saved the driver’s life.”

The officers were given their awards on Thursday by Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher and Police Chief Ken Scarlette.