Border Patrol agent frees woman, child from burning car with pistol

[MikeG]

Border Patrol agent frees woman, child from burning car, DPS says

Okay, who hasn't wanted to do this?

Imagine driving on the freeway and trying to make a U-Turn from fast lane. Lost and stupid is a dangerous combination. I guess the good news is the kid was unhurt.

A Border Patrol agent rescued a Tucson woman and a 3-year-old from a burning vehicle over the weekend, using his service weapon to shoot a window and free the mother and child, officials disclosed Wednesday.

State Department of Public Safety officials said the woman was driving south on Interstate 19 near milepost 56 Saturday when she missed her turnoff and slowed down in the fast lane and tried to cross through the median.

A driver behind her couldn't stop in time and struck her vehicle, and it burst into flames after the gas tank ruptured, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.

An unidentified agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and two bystanders rushed to the burning vehicle and attempted to break the windows, Graves said.

When their efforts failed, the agent fired his duty weapon to break the glass. The woman, 52-year-old Beatriz Samayoa, suffered burns to her face and head; she was taken to University Medical Center in Tucson.

The other driver, Alyssa Endykweicz, was treated and released.

The 3-year-old child was not injured.

[retdetsgt]

I always wanted to shoot the lock off a door like they routinely did in western and cop movies.... Sadly, never had the chance. I should put that on my bucket list.

[Radical Jack]

Between this and the story of the thug taken out by a clown, the headlines section sure is starting to look like something out of the movies. ;)

[Wolfman]

Good on him. Being the federal gummint - I suspect that his commendation for lifesaving would be followed by a day's suspension for discharging a firearm inappropriately or some such nonsense.

[ET109]

Glad they're okay, now find someone to give her a citation.

I think I'll stop carrying around a window punch just so I can try that...