Barefoot man rescues police officer from burning squad car, family from rolled SUV

Ryan Smith didn't have time to put on his shoes.

The 26-year-old Braham, Minnesota, man lives across the street from a dangerous intersection. When he heard a loud boom last Wednesday night, he ran outside to see a patrol car in the ditch and a rolled SUV next to it.

The SUV driver had sped through a stop sign, slamming into Officer Paul Dial's vehicle in the intersection.

"I seen (sic) that SUV coming," Dial told CBS Minnesota, recalling the crash. "And I thought he was going to stop."

The squad car ended up in the ditch. It burst into flames.

Smith approached the SUV driver, who told him her children were still stuck in the back. He jumped on the vehicle and pulled them to safety, then turned his attention to the police officer, who was trapped in his car and complaining of pain.

"There was a flame underneath the hood," Smith said. "At that time I knew he had to come out of there. I leaned down and told him to grab my shoulder and wrap his arm around mine. Then we started walking away from it."

The flames intensified as they walked away from the crash.

"I saved a guy's life for sure. If I didn’t react like I did he probably would’ve been in there not coming out," Smith told KARE 11.

By the time first responders arrived, the situation "was critical," CBS Minnesota reported. Crews were forced to stand back and watch fire consume the car and ammunition pop off.

Dial suffered only minor injuries — no broken bones — and is now recovering at home.

The SUV driver received a citation for distracted driving. She and her children are also recuperating. Her vehicle was totalled.

Smith insists he's not a hero.

"Do a favour, return a favour, I guess," he said.