PLANO – On January 9, 2025, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Cody Durham took swift action to rescue a driver trapped in a burning vehicle following a serious accident on the Dallas Tollway near Spring Creek Parkway.
PLANO – On January 9, 2025, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Cody Durham took swift action to rescue a driver trapped in a burning vehicle following a serious accident on the Dallas Tollway near Spring Creek Parkway.
At approximately 2:20 a.m., while on routine patrol, Trooper Durham noticed a crashed vehicle emitting smoke in the northbound lanes. He quickly turned around and approached the scene, discovering that the vehicle was engulfed in flames with the driver still inside.
Without hesitation, Trooper Durham opened the back passenger door, entered the smoke-filled interior, and began to pull the driver to safety. “I believed once I started pulling, that was going to be the only way to get him out,” Trooper Durham recounted. “I just kept pulling and pulling until we were out of the car.”
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived shortly thereafter and transported the driver to Medical City Plano for treatment, while the Plano Fire Department worked to extinguish the blaze.
“Trooper Durham courageously intervened to save a life, demonstrating the true essence of our commitment to the safety of Texans,” stated Jeremy Sherrod, DPS North Texas Regional Director. “His quick thinking and selfless actions not only averted tragedy but also reaffirmed our belief in the profound impact that dedicated law enforcement officers have on the lives of those they serve.”
Trooper Durham was subsequently treated for smoke inhalation at Plano Presbyterian Hospital and has since been released.