Officer smashes window to save woman trapped in burning car
By Associated Press
Jan 23, 2017 2:43 PM CST

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A woman who was trapped in a burning car is hailing a Washington state officer as a hero after he bashed in her window and pulled her to safety, a rescue caught on the officer's body camera.

Video shows Officer Tim Schwering of the city of Spokane repeatedly smashing the window with a baton as flames shoot from the hood of the car on a snowy street.

He eventually cracked a hole for Kim Novak to fit through and pulled her out.

Novak told Spokane news station KREM-TV on Sunday (http://bit.ly/2jnaKaf ) that she hit frozen slush and broke down Friday.

She says she saw smoke but couldn't get out because of the power locks. She called 911, then noticed flames. She tried kicking out the windows but couldn't.

After her rescue, Novak called Schwering "a genuine hero."

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Information from: KREM-TV, http://www.krem.com/