Cambs detectives rescue woman from burning car in ditch

Two detectives who rescued a woman from a burning car fallen into a deep roadside ditch have been nominated for a national bravery award. DC Craig Trevor and DC Lily Deacon were travelling in plain clothes in an unmarked vehicle on the A605 on September 14, 2022, when they witnessed the driver of a car lose control and fall into a 15-foot ditch near Coates.

The vehicle lost control at around 70mph to 80mph while heading in the opposite direction to the police officers. Both the officers immediately stopped their vehicle and approached the crashed car after calling for assistance on police airwaves.

During the crash, the vehicle had flipped and caught fire. It was resting precariously on the edge of the ditch which opened into a 100m fall on the side of the motorway.

With the police officers not knowing how many people were inside the car, both the officers alighted into the ditch and found the female alone and trapped in the driver's seat. They found she was in a state of shock and was unable to get out of the blazing car bellowing heavy black smoke.

The police detectives managed to get the woman out of the car without damaging the window glass or windshield by accessing her after helping her unlock the car's door. Pulling her to safety by the side of the motorway, the officers then checked there were no other injured persons in the engulfed car.

The two officers placed themselves in harm’s way to save the female driver, who was provided medical attention by the ambulance staff and found under the influence of alcohol over the legal limit.

Both the officers rescued the female driver at the risk of fatal injuries as the car was ablaze when they carried out the operation. The female driver was later sentenced to a 16-month driving ban (reduced to 16 weeks), a £120 fine and £105 court costs.

Reacting to the incident, Liz Groom, Cambridgeshire Police Federation chair, said: “I am incredibly proud of Lily and Craig who showed great bravery in their actions. They would not have expected to have needed to put themselves in harm’s way when simply travelling to deal with a detainee in an unmarked police car, but they did so without hesitation.

"It’s clear that had they not then this female could have sustained serious injuries or worse. They are a real credit to the force and policing.”

Cambridgeshire Chief Constable, Nick Dean, added: “DCs Trevor and Deacon conducted themselves with utmost bravery and professionalism. They acted with great determination and skill to remove the woman from the vehicle, undoubtedly saving her life, and all while putting themselves in harm’s way.”

References

1. ^{^} Cocaine dealer caught in Ely with drugs in sock after being stopped by Cambridgeshire Police (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)