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Police: Off-duty paramedic saves trapped driver from burning SUV in Franklin

Posted at 10:37 PM, Jun 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-15 22:37:31-04

FRANKLIN, Oh. — An off-duty West Chester paramedic climbed inside a burning SUV after a crash in Franklin to rescue the driver trapped inside.

Four occupants made it out of the blue sport-utility vehicle after it crashed into a tree and caught fire shortly before 5 p.m. on Ohio 123, just past Beal Road, Franklin police Lt. Brian Pacifico said.

However, the driver was stuck and the front doors wouldn’t open.

That’s when off-duty West Chester Fire Lt. Gary Zimmer entered the smoke-filled vehicle through the rear passenger area to help maneuver the driver and hand him to a Franklin officer behind him.

The driver, 18-year-old Frank A. Phillippe II of Franklin, was cited for failure to maintain control, Pacifico said.

He and three other people were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.