Heroic Rescue in Ohio: Police Officers Save Driver from Burning Vehicle
In a dramatic late-night rescue, two Ohio police officers risked their lives to save a severely injured driver trapped in a burning vehicle following a rollover crash. The incident, which occurred on December 27 around 11:11 PM near state Route 5 and Bradley Brownlee Road in Bazetta and Mecca townships, showcases the extraordinary bravery that first responders demonstrate in life-or-death situations. Cortland Police Department officers John Mosora and Chuck Lohry responded to what was initially reported as an “unknown fire,” only to discover a vehicle that had crashed through a fence, flipped onto its side, and erupted in flames with the driver still trapped inside.
The rescue, captured vividly on body camera footage, reveals the intensity and urgency of the situation. Upon discovering the driver pinned inside the burning wreckage, Officer Mosora immediately took action by breaking through the vehicle’s sunroof to reach him. The footage captures the driver’s desperate pleas, repeatedly telling the officers, “My leg is broken. I can’t move. I can’t move. Give me a second.” With flames spreading rapidly and time running out, the officers knew delay wasn’t an option. “We don’t have a second,” one officer responded firmly. “Your car is on fire.” This exchange highlights the critical split-second decision-making that officers must employ when lives hang in the balance.
As smoke filled the vehicle’s interior, creating an increasingly deadly environment, the officers continued urging the driver to cooperate in his own rescue. “Let’s go. Let’s go. We ain’t waiting,” an officer can be heard shouting in the bodycam video. “You gotta help me help you.” This moment reveals the human dimension of emergency response—the need to push past a victim’s shock and pain to secure their survival. Meanwhile, Officer Lohry deployed a fire extinguisher to temporarily hold back the flames, creating a narrow window of opportunity for his partner to complete the extraction. Working in perfect tandem, the officers demonstrated how training and teamwork can make the difference between life and death in emergency situations.
In a testament to their courage and quick thinking, Officer Mosora managed to drag the injured driver from the vehicle just moments before the fire intensified. The rescue wasn’t without personal cost—Mosora sustained minor injuries during the extraction process, though these didn’t prevent him from completing the life-saving mission. The bodycam footage shows just how close this rescue came to tragedy, as flames engulfed the vehicle shortly after the driver was pulled to safety. Had the officers hesitated even briefly or waited for fire department personnel to arrive, the outcome would likely have been tragically different for the trapped motorist.
Following the successful extraction, multiple fire departments arrived at the scene to fully extinguish the vehicle fire and provide medical assistance to the injured driver, who was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. The collaborative response demonstrates how different emergency services work together in crisis situations, with police often serving as the critical first line of response before specialized units arrive. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation of the crash itself, working to determine what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, crash through a fence, and ultimately roll over before catching fire. As of the report, authorities had not released details about the driver’s current condition or the factors that might have contributed to the accident.
This rescue serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers that police officers and other first responders face daily in service to their communities. Beyond enforcing laws, officers routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect and save lives—often with little notice or recognition. Officers Mosora and Lohry exemplify the highest ideals of public service, responding without hesitation when confronted with a life-threatening emergency. Their actions that night along state Route 5 represent the kind of courage that defines heroism: not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act decisively despite it. As communities across America continue important discussions about policing, stories like this highlight the vital role that dedicated officers play as guardians and rescuers in our society’s moments of greatest need.
