Two police officers were injured early Thursday morning after responding to a car accident rescue in Sheepshead Bay, police said.
Police officers Eddie Wong and Annette Lancaster, both from the Transit District 34 precinct, were on patrol around Avenue T and McDonald Avenue when they came across a car that had struck a pillar that supports an elevated train track.
The 2007 Lincoln MKX was found on fire and filled with smoke, with two of the three occupants still inside when officers’ Wong and Lancaster came to their aid, cops said.
After breaking the windows with their asps to ventilate the vehicle, the officers attempted to open the front doors of the vehicle, but due to damage from the accident, the doors would not open. Local residents assisted the officers, according to police, and they were able to successfully force the driver’s side door open, allowing the 27 year old male driver to exit the burning vehicle.
Both officers struggled to rescue the 55 year old female passenger in the front seat, as the flames grew in intensity and made their way to the cabin, according to police.
During the dramatic rescue, a local resident handed officer Wong a fire extinguisher, which he used to combat the fire. The woman was eventually freed through the broken window and removed to safety.
Officer Wong suffered a strained right shoulder and smoke inhalation, while officer Lancaster suffered lacerations to her hands as well as smoke inhalation. They were both transported to Maimonides Hospital for treatment.
The three occupants were taken to Lutheran Hospital, with minor injuries, police said.