Trooper Pulls Man From Burning Car

A Florida Highway Patrolman helping a disabled motorists in St. Petersburg Monday evening is being heralded as a hero after he dropped what he was doing to pull another motorist from a burning vehicle.

The incident began to unfold Monday around 8 p.m. when Trooper Robert Duckers was assisting a disabled motorist on northbound Interstate 275. At that time, a 2011 Infinity G37 driven by Michael Lamar Brewer was heading north in the exit lane to 54th Avenue North, the highway patrol reported in a media release.

Brewer, the release said, failed to negotiate the exit ramp’s curve, left the road and struck several trees. After hitting those trees, Brewer’s car burst into flames and became fully engulfed with him still inside.

Duckers heard about the crash and “ran to the burning vehicle, broke out the window and removed the unconscious driver,” troopers reported.

Brewer was transported to Bayfront Health in serious condition. Duckers received minor injuries during the rescue and was also treated at Bayfront.

Duckers, 22, is a relative newcomer to FHP. He graduated from the agency’s academy in January 2014, according to Sgt. Steve Gaskins.

Brewer has been cited with felony driving on a suspended license, careless driving and for failure to use a seatbelt.

He remained at Bayfront in serious condition Tuesday morning.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol