COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio honored Columbus Division of Police Officer Gloria West with its Hometown Hero Award on May 18, 2026, for her extraordinary bravery in pulling a trapped driver from a burning pickup truck — an act that gave her second-degree burns but saved the man’s life.

U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II presented the award as part of the Department of Justice’s Freedom 250 initiative, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, according to the DOJ press release.

'Tell my wife I love her'

The rescue unfolded in the early-morning hours of November 13, 2024. A driver identifying himself as Randy was traveling on Interstate 270 near the I-71 interchange when his pickup truck’s brakes failed. The truck slammed into a highway bridge pillar and burst into flames, WSYX reported.

Trapped inside with a broken ankle as the fire intensified, Randy called 911. During the six-minute call, he told the dispatcher: "Tell my wife I love her, please tell my wife I love her."

Officer West — still in field training and less than a year on the job — and her partner arrived within seconds. Body-worn camera footage captured the moment West ran toward the burning vehicle.

"I am not going to leave him in there," West can be heard telling fellow officers on her body camera.

'She went in there despite the dangers'

West ran to the passenger door and screamed for the driver to reach for her hand. She pulled him from the vehicle moments before the fire fully engulfed it.

Fraternal Order of Police Capital Lodge #9 President Brian Steel confirmed that the truck exploded shortly after the rescue, according to multiple reports.

"She went in there, despite the dangers, got burned herself. Opened the door, was able to pull this individual out, all the officers dragged him to safety, and then the car exploded," Steel said. "He 100% would not have lived had they not taken the action they took."

West suffered second-degree burns to her hands during the rescue. Her hand was still bandaged when she recalled the incident days later in an interview with 10TV.

'I was just doing my job'

"I treated it like I would my family members. If my family members were in there, that’s what I would want someone to do. I would want them to get them out by any means necessary," West told 10TV in a detailed interview.

"I was just doing my job. I think not even as a police officer, as a human — if you have the means to help someone, especially someone's life, you should absolutely do what it takes."

The rescued driver was transported to OSU Wexner Medical Center in fair condition. His wife told WSYX she appreciated what the officer did for her husband.

U.S. Attorney Gerace said at the award ceremony: "Officer West represents the very best of the Columbus Division of Police. Her dedication to her community, her professionalism, and her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty make her an exemplary officer and a true hometown hero."

Freedom 250 Hometown Hero Award

The Hometown Hero award is part of the Department of Justice’s Freedom 250 initiative, which recognizes one law enforcement officer in each of the nation’s 93 U.S. Attorney districts. The award honors "the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility" that define America’s 250th anniversary.

Officer West was one of only 93 officers nationwide selected to receive the award.

Why this story matters

For Support Law Enforcement readers, Officer West’s actions are a powerful example of the split-second courage that defines American policing. A probationary officer who had been on the force less than a year did not hesitate to run toward a burning vehicle, suffering burns herself, to save a stranger’s life.

Her story also highlights the role of body-worn cameras in documenting the real, unscripted bravery of officers across the country — and the human moments, like Randy’s final plea to his wife, that remind us what is at stake in every police response.

Sources reviewed

Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used a bodycam still released by the Columbus Division of Police and published by WSYX for the featured image. The image shows the burning pickup truck from a distance and does not identify the rescued driver. No staged, AI-generated, or fictional rescue imagery was used. The rescued driver is identified only by first name as reported in public sources.