A Chester County deputy in South Carolina is being hailed as a hero after he managed to pull a woman out of a burning vehicle following a crash, all captured in body cam footage. Shockingly, the woman was on her way to her final cancer treatment appointment and, since then, has described the deputy as her “guardian angel.”
According to a post made by the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Saturday, May 23. At around 3:30 p.m., Patrol Deputy Threatt responded to I-77 at the 62 Mile Marker.
Upon arrival, Threatt came across a “severe” single-vehicle accident. A vehicle was overturned and partially on fire, and the driver was still inside.
Threatt didn’t hesitate, the CCSO said. Immediately, he rushed to the burning vehicle, ready to do what’s necessary to get the woman out of her vehicle.
Bodycam Footage
Footage from Threatt’s bodycam was also made public with the CCSO. The deputy is seen running toward the vehicle, calling out to the woman.
After briefly assessing the scene and observing the severity of the crash, Threatt took matters into his own hands. He grabbed a metal piece from the ground and smashed the driver’s window.
Again, with the flames still spreading through the vehicle, Threatt made a decision. He cut the woman’s seatbelt and, with the help of a responding firefighter, he managed to pull the driver, a woman, out of her car.
A Milestone, Almost Unreachable
With the woman now in safety, albeit injured, first responders managed to put out the fire. Others tended to the woman, who was then transported to a local hospital.
As per the CCSO, it turns out that the woman was traveling to Charlotte to celebrate a “massive milestone.” Reportedly, she was finishing radiation treatments for breast cancer.
She was then identified as Carletta Bush. Thanks to Threatt’s courageous and selfless actions, she managed to survive a crash that would have otherwise been fatal.
A Guardian Angel
In an interview with WBTV, Carletta expressed her gratitude to Deputy Threatt. The two of them have developed a strong bond ever since, as Threatt and his wife visited Carletta at the hospital.
“He had to be my guardian angel because nobody, nobody came to save me,” she said. “And I just don’t know how I survived it, but I did.”
Meanwhile, the CCSO commended Threatt’s quick thinking, saying, “Every day, the men and women of law enforcement face the unknown and run toward danger. Thank you, Deputy Threatt, for your selfless service, quick thinking, and bravery.”