HOUSTON – A Houston-area police officer is being recognized by 2 Helps You for his quick thinking and bravery after stopping to help a driver trapped inside a burning vehicle on Interstate 10.
Officer Michael Seiss says he was traveling on I-10 over a week ago when he came upon a serious crash in the eastbound lanes. The vehicle was upside down, heavily damaged and on fire, with the driver trapped inside.
As he walked around the vehicle, Seiss noticed something that confirmed someone was still alive.
“As I did a walk around I saw fingers coming up from underneath the door, between the door and the pavement,” he said.
The upside-down vehicle was badly crushed, making it impossible to simply pull the driver free. Seiss opened the door and discovered the driver was trapped by his seat belt.
Body cam video shows Seiss using his knife to free the driver, “He couldn’t be just pulled out, I had to cut his seat belt off. I started to pull it off and it also was around his neck so I had to cut that as well,” Seiss said.
It was the first time Seiss had faced a rescue of this nature. Despite the danger and the severity of the crash, he relied on his training and instincts.
“I really didn’t have to think much, it becomes second nature,” he said.
Seiss said that as the first officer at the scene, he knew he had to take control and direct the response.
“As an officer when you are first on scene that is your scene. You have to take control of it and give direction,” he said.
The situation was dangerous for both the trapped driver and Seiss, but the officer remained focused on getting the victim out alive.
“I know it was a situation that was mortal to him, it was mortal to me, but no one was going to die on my scene. It had to be done,” Siess said.
When not jumping to action on I-10, Seiss is usually protecting the children at Rummel Creek Elementary School in Memorial.
Now if you know someone making a difference in the Houston 2 Helps You wants to hear about it.
Simply contact the 2 Helps You Help Desk.