FOX 13 News

BRADENTON (FOX 13) –

For veteran Manatee County deputies Dan Durrance and Chris Fields, a day on duty ended in a life-saving mission. Friday morning, Deputy Durrance was patrolling the University Parkway area in Manatee County when a traffic accident caught his eye. “There were several people yelling that there was another passenger in the car that was stuck,” he said. Good Samaritans had rescued the driver, Judd Hoffmann. But passenger Catherine Cuartas was trapped inside, and the car was on fire.

“Her legs were underneath the dash and she was sitting on the floor board in front of the seat,” said Deputy Durrance. Deputy Durrance tried with several other Good Samaritans to get her out. “There was another lady trying to help me from the driver side. We couldn’t wake her up,” he said. He tried repeatedly to get Cuartas out, and Deputy Field arrived to help. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and joined the scene.

“When you can see flames with in arms distance you get nervous and you know time is running out,” said Deputy Fields. The two deputies knew their time was running out.”Just the look in each other’s face was, ‘we’ve got to get this lady out. We can’t stand here and let her die,’ ” Deputy Durrance said. Deputy Fields kept the flames back, while Deputy Durrance and others tried everything they could think of. But Cuartas was still trapped, and the flames were growing. “At that point, training takes over and you just go,” said Deputy Fields. The two deputies told everyone to get back.

“He was beating on it from the inside, and I was pulling on it from the outside. I don’t know what we did but it worked out,” Deputy Fields said. At that time, Cuartas has finally regained consciousness. “I told her she had to help me. I asked her to push as hard as she could and we just pulled her out of the back door,” Deputy Durrance said. With that they saved a life, but say it’s just a part of their job.

“You don’t think about the danger. I guess you just worry about getting the person out to safety,” said Deputy Fields. Cuartas was flown to Tampa General Hospital where she is currently being treated for burns.

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