Officer helps elderly woman to safety
Vehicle engulfed in flames a few minutes later
Officer Cody Lamielle rescues an elderly woman from a burning truck. Submitted photo
WADSWORTH – Thanks to the quick action of a Wadsworth police officer, an elderly woman was safely removed from a vehicle before it became engulfed in flames.
On Jan. 2 around 5 p.m. Officer Cody Lamielle received word from the Rittman Police Department that they had received some calls about a blue pickup truck driving erratically around the area of Wall Road.
Lamielle spotted a vehicle matching the description on state Route 57.
“After following the vehicle for about 300 or 400 feet and observing, I could tell this wasn’t erratic driving based on the driver being impaired,” Lamielle said. “The driver had her hazards on, was going about 30 mph and was trying to stay out of the way of other drivers.”
After stopping the vehicle, Lamielle directed the driver to pop the hood. Smoke billowed out of the front of the vehicle and Lamielle said he suspected the car would quickly catch fire.
“I heard the crackle and I knew the fire could spread quickly,” he said. “At that point there wasn’t time to get a fire extinguisher.”
Lamielle radioed in to dispatch asking personnel to notify the fire department then quickly made his way to the passenger side of the vehicle to help the driver’s elderly mother.
“The driver had already exited the vehicle to pop the hood,” Lamielle said. “The passenger had some medical problems and wasn’t able to walk so I carried her out.”
Once both women were safely in his cruiser, Lamielle backed up his vehicle to gain some distance from the burning pickup truck. It took just a couple of minutes for the truck to be completely engulfed in flames.
Lamielle drove the two ladies down the road where they were picked up by a friend. He said he managed to remain calm during the entire incident.
“I didn’t get nervous. I knew what I had to do was get them out of the car,” he said, adding that he believes his police training helped to keep him calm and focused on the task at hand.
Darlene Richmond, who was the driver of the vehicle, said she was thankful for Lamielle’s assistance.
“I think this officer is an angel on the spot,” she said. “My mother could not have made it out of the car. He never once lost his cool, but just quickly got her out of harm’s way.”
Richmond said the pickup truck was completely destroyed, but said that really doesn’t matter.
“My mom and I are both alive,” she said. “That is what matters.”
Lamielle, who joined the Wadsworth Police Department last May, said he became a police officer because he wanted to be able to help people.
“It was nice knowing I was able to help them out,” he said.
On Jan. 2 around 5 p.m. Officer Cody Lamielle received word from the Rittman Police Department that they had received some calls about a blue pickup truck driving erratically around the area of Wall Road.
Lamielle spotted a vehicle matching the description on state Route 57.
“After following the vehicle for about 300 or 400 feet and observing, I could tell this wasn’t erratic driving based on the driver being impaired,” Lamielle said. “The driver had her hazards on, was going about 30 mph and was trying to stay out of the way of other drivers.”
After stopping the vehicle, Lamielle directed the driver to pop the hood. Smoke billowed out of the front of the vehicle and Lamielle said he suspected the car would quickly catch fire.
“I heard the crackle and I knew the fire could spread quickly,” he said. “At that point there wasn’t time to get a fire extinguisher.”
Lamielle radioed in to dispatch asking personnel to notify the fire department then quickly made his way to the passenger side of the vehicle to help the driver’s elderly mother.
“The driver had already exited the vehicle to pop the hood,” Lamielle said. “The passenger had some medical problems and wasn’t able to walk so I carried her out.”
Once both women were safely in his cruiser, Lamielle backed up his vehicle to gain some distance from the burning pickup truck. It took just a couple of minutes for the truck to be completely engulfed in flames.
Lamielle drove the two ladies down the road where they were picked up by a friend. He said he managed to remain calm during the entire incident.
“I didn’t get nervous. I knew what I had to do was get them out of the car,” he said, adding that he believes his police training helped to keep him calm and focused on the task at hand.
Darlene Richmond, who was the driver of the vehicle, said she was thankful for Lamielle’s assistance.
“I think this officer is an angel on the spot,” she said. “My mother could not have made it out of the car. He never once lost his cool, but just quickly got her out of harm’s way.”
Richmond said the pickup truck was completely destroyed, but said that really doesn’t matter.
“My mom and I are both alive,” she said. “That is what matters.”
Lamielle, who joined the Wadsworth Police Department last May, said he became a police officer because he wanted to be able to help people.
“It was nice knowing I was able to help them out,” he said.