Officer drags man from burning vehicle

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A police officer saved a man's life by pulling him from a burning vehicle as it hung over the edge of a motorway bridge.

The incident occurred at around 2.10am on Sunday 27th May when the emergency services were called to the clockwise carriageway of the M60 motorway on the Barton High Level Bridge, near to the Trafford Centre.

A van and a car had collided at the carriageway, with the car then ploughing through the guard rails at the side of the bridge, leaving it partially hanging over the edge.

The vehicle was aflame with smoke billowing from it, but PC Sharon Price was able to pull the passenger free, singeing her uniform in the process.

Price, based at the Roads Policing Unit at Wythenshawe, said: “'As soon as I got to the collision, I knew I needed to protect the pedestrians and vehicles involved as traffic was still moving freely and people were panicking.

“I saw the Mercedes hanging over the edge of the bridge and could see it was on fire. I realised that the driver was still in his seat and my main concern was to get him out quickly as I thought the car might explode.

“A man helped me to pull him out of the car from where he was pinned by the motorway barrier and we carried him down the road to a safe place."

Price's actions have been praised by senior office of Greater Manchester Police, including chief Inspector Rachel Buckle, of the Serious Collision Reconstruction Unit.

She said: “What PC Price did was a perfect demonstration of the dangers faced by our officers every day.

“Without a moment’s thought for her own safety she went into rescue mode and pulled this man from the wreckage of the burning car.

“Thankfully she wasn’t injured and her swift and brave actions ensured the motorist only suffered minor injuries.”