A man’s life was saved early Saturday morning after two Nevada Highway Patrol troopers dragged him away from a burning vehicle, the result of a single-car crash, along U.S. Highway 95.
According to NBC News affiliate KSNV, troopers Daniel Slattery and Christopher Black came upon the incident.
In bodycam and dashcam video released by officials, the officers can be heard commenting on the crash before racing out of their vehicle on foot.
“Oh my god, there’s somebody there,” one of the troopers can be heard saying.
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The two run up to a man lying on the ground near the burning vehicle, shouting at him, asking if he can get on his feet before one officer proceeds to drag him along the ground away from the car.
As they continue to pull him away, the other patroller asks him if anyone else is in the car, to which he responds the vehicle is empty.
A few seconds later, a pop is heard before they ask the man if he can walk.
“Give me your arm, we’ve got to get you up,” one patroller says.
“You’re not safe here, buddy,” the other says.
After they’ve pulled him several feet from the car, they ask him what’s in the car.
“Are there bullets in the car?” one officer asks.
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“Yeah, there’s a lot,” the injured man responds as more popping sounds shoot off from the flames, creating a dangerous situation. KSNV reports there were 1,000 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. According to ABC affiliate 13 Action News, one piece of shrapnel hit one of the officers.
NHP spokesperson told NBC that both troopers, one of whom was in training, remained calm under pressure.
“You never know what you’re going to stumble on out there on the highways,” said trooper Travis Smaka. “When you’re on the scene, you’re thinking you have a job to do. You have a duty to act, you do your job and then maybe an hour or two later, you’re like, ‘Oh, what was I just involved in?'”
Smaka added that it’s not unusual for a target shooter to carry that many bullets and it’s not illegal.
The man was eventually taken to hospital safely. NBC reports the man suffered a few broken bones, but is otherwise expected to be OK.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
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