COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Video from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office showed what started as a deputy pursuit but turned into a rescue mission early Friday morning.
The video recapped an incident that happened around 3 a.m.
Deputy Tedjeske attempted to pull over a Dodge Dart for reckless driving near State Road 100 and County Road 245 A.
The driver, identified as Darryel Cassels, who also had two other passengers in the vehicle, did not stop, according to CCSO.
Tedjeske followed behind Cassels to pursue him.
CCSO said Cassels ran a red light and crashed into a tree, causing the vehicle to catch fire.
Deputies Tedjeske and Nash made a call to the fire department and jumped into action to save the passengers.
The deputies slowly approach the vehicle with their guns drawn. The next shot showed the deputies working to remove the passengers.
A passenger screamed “help” in agony.
“The fire’s cooking me,” one person said as the deputies attempted to pull them out of the car.
Another deputy arrived at the scene with a fire extinguisher.
Sgt. Waddington suffered several cuts on his hands from trying to remove broken glass from the car.
Deputies successfully removed everyone from the vehicle.
The three passengers were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Cassels is expected to face charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
