January 10th, 2011
Officer, Samaritan save man from car wreckage

STAFF REPORT

A San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) officer and two good Samaritans pulled a crash victim from a burning vehicle following a wreck last week on Interstate-35.

SMPD Officer Robert Elrod encountered the wreck on northbound I-35 near exit 207 at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 4 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,” SMPD Chief Howard Williams said. “I am so proud of Officer Elrod, Mr. Roegner, and the other man whose name we unfortunately do not know. 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 Hospital in Austin.