January 7th, 2011
Officer, passerby save man from burning car

SUBMITTED REPORT

A San Marcos police officer and two good Samaritans pulled a crash victim from a burning vehicle Tuesday, January 4, following a wreck on Interstate 35.

Officer Robert Elrod encountered the wreck on northbound Interstate 35 near exit 207 Tuesday at approximately 7:15 p.m. after a vehicle crashed into the rear of an 18-wheeler.

Elrod, along with a passerby identified as Daniel Roegner of Liberty Hill and an unidentified man, worked to free the crash victim, who was unconscious in the burning car. They were able to extricate him in about a minute.

“This is an example of community service at its finest.  I am so proud of Officer Elrod, Mr. Roegner, and the other man whose name we unfortunately do not know,” Police Chief Howard Williams said.  “There is no substitute for the courage of law enforcement officers and citizens who care enough to get involved.”

The unidentified victim was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge in Austin.