ELK GROVE, Calif — It was an average night, for Elk Grove Police Officer Jared Houston until he was dispatched to a car crash shortly before 1 a.m. last Tuesday.
While turning the corner at Sheldon and Waterman roads, he said he saw the a car in flames and it was tunnel vision for him from that point on.
"Training and experience kicked in," Houston explained.
His body-worn camera caught the intense call in the middle of his graveyard shift. In the video, Houston is seen running toward the burning car, shouting to check if somebody is inside.
A man's voice answers, pleading for help. He's trapped inside as video shows fire and smoke billowing from the engine and Houston circling the car trying to open the doors.
At that point, Houston shouts to the man to lean back. Just as he was trained, Houston used his baton to break through the passenger side window.
The man, who crashed into a pole, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
In Houston's five-year career, this was his first major life-saving call. Still, he said he doesn't feel like a hero.
"If I'm deemed a hero, I think everyone who wears a badge should be a hero, especially the ones that taught me everything I know," Houston said.
Houston said without them, he wouldn't have been prepared for the job.
Houston shared the credit with his partners who showed up to help clear the call. After that, Houston said he caught his breath, continued his shift and went on to his next call.
Follow the conversation on Facebook with Van Tieu.
READ MORE ELK GROVE NEWS FROM ABC10:
FOR NEWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DOWNLOAD THE ABC10 APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for ABC10's Daily Blend Newsletter