Bodycam footage has captured the dramatic moment a heroic police officer sprang into action after a car caught on fire on Texas State Highway 114.
Corporal Joshua Swisher was conducting a traffic stop when a separate Nissan car drove by, up in smoke.
He directed the smoking car onto the shoulder of the highway, and that’s when it erupted in flames.
After Corporal Swisher realized the driver was stuck inside the burning vehicle, he dropped everything to rescue him.
Watch the footage here for yourself:
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Heart-racing bodycam footage captures the heroic moment a police officer jumped into action and saved a man from a burning car on a Texas highway. pic.twitter.com/2qIR190hiO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 19, 2026
This act of heroism took place last month.
Thankfully, nobody was injured in what could have been an incredibly tragic incident.
Fox 4 News shared Corporal Swisher’s account of what happened:
Corporal Joshua Swisher of the Southlake Police Department switched from a mundane Sunday evening call to one that saved a man’s life within seconds, flames coming from under the vehicle and the inside filled with smoke.
“I could not even see inside the vehicle. The only thing I saw was hands, and it was the driver trying to get his door open from the inside,” said Swisher.
The driver was in shock as the door wasn’t open.
“He grabbed onto me. We got him out of the car, shortly before the interior went up in flames,” said Swisher.
ADVERTISEMENTNo one else was in the burning Nissan, as it was quickly engulfed by flames.
“I think I speak for every Southlake officer when i say that if anybody had been put in that same situation, same circumstances, any other officer would have done the same thing,” said Swisher.
For his brave actions, the officer is being honored with the department’s Meritorious Conduct Award.
My Southlake News reported further:
Thanks to Corporal Swisher’s swift actions, the driver did not suffer serious injury. Dash camera and body-worn camera footage from the incident capture just how quickly the situation escalated and the urgency of Corporal Swisher’s response.
For his courage, decisive action, and commitment to protecting others, Corporal Swisher was recently presented with the Southlake Police Department’s Meritorious Conduct Award, the Department’s second-highest honor. The award recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional courage, professionalism, and performance in the face of significant danger.
“Every day, our officers are prepared to respond to situations that can change in an instant,” said Police Chief Ashleigh Casey. “This incident is a powerful reminder that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop or call. This recognition honors more than a courageous act – Corporal Swisher’s selfless actions reflect the character, training, and commitment our officers bring to every shift, every day to protect and serve the Southlake community.”
Fox 4 Dallas-Forth Worth covered the story further in this clip:
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