A dramatic rescue unfolded on Sunday, June 8, when a 68-year-old woman was saved from a burning car after it overturned on a highway in Chester, N.Y. The rescue took place on Kings Highway near Knapps View Park at around 4:00 a.m., as reported by the Chester Police Department.
Police and emergency services were alerted to a crash involving a vehicle that had rolled over, trapping a woman inside. The Chester Police Department detailed that Officer Nicholas Contino was the first to reach the scene, handing his fire extinguisher to a passing driver and locating the trapped driver.
The rescuers successfully broke the sunroof glass and pulled the woman from the flaming wreckage. She was identified as a 68-year-old resident of Warwick, N.Y., and was driving alone at the time of the accident. She was taken to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Officer Contino’s quick actions were praised for significantly increasing the woman’s chances of survival. A video posted on the Chester Police’s Facebook page shows Officer Contino and another motorist attempting to put out the fire and then extracting the woman from the car. The footage captures the urgency and teamwork involved in the rescue operation.
In the video, a voice can be heard asking, “Can you get out? Hello… where you at?” to which the woman responds, “I’m here.” After the roof is breached, the woman is pulled from the vehicle and assisted to safety by the officers and motorists.
The woman’s full identity has not been disclosed. PEOPLE has reached out to the Chester Police for additional comments but has yet to receive a response. For more updates, sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay informed on top stories, from celebrity news to gripping human interest tales.
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