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WS POV Police men extinguishing burning car / Baytown, Texas, USA<br /><br />Baytown police department received a report of a major accident in the 300 block of Massey Tompkins. Officer marvin currie was the first to arrive on the scene. Officer currie observed one of the vehicles, a 1997 gmc pickup, to be upside down and on fire. A citizen advised officer currie there was a person trapped inside this vehicle. Officer currie used his fire extinguisher to try and extinguish the bla ze but it was too much for his fire extinguisher. Lt. Claud "bubba" deel arrived and also used his fire extinguisher. Officer currie struggled to try and break the back glass of the truck against the intense flames and smoke. Other officers arrived and used their fire extinguishers. Officer currie managed to break the window and, with the assistance of lt. Deel, was able to free the trapped occupant and pull him to safety. The victims clothing had just caught fire as they pulled him free and they were able to extinguish the flames. Baytown e.m.s. Arrived to treat the victim. The victim was later identified as charles jerry parnell jr., 35, of baytown. He was transported to memorial herman hospital via life flight helicoptor. Officer currie was transported to san jacinto hospital by baytown e.m.s. Where he was treated for cuts, abrasions and smoke inhalation. Lt. Deel suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene.,The second vehicle, a 1995 toyota corolla, was heavily damaged and there were two people trapped inside. Several trucks from baytown fire and rescue arrived and extinguished the flames from the truck while others worked to free the occupants of the toyota using the jaws of life.,The occupants of the toyota were identiifed as tonya naomi hargrove, 31, of baytown and sheri denise haynes, 31, of baytown. Hargrove was also transported to memorial herman hospital by life flight helicoptor and haynes was transported to san jacinto hospital by baytown e.m.s.,The initial investigation revealed that the 1997 gmc truck, driven by parnell was traveling westbound on massey tompkins. The truck drove across the designated center turn lane into the eastbound traffic and struck the 1995 toyota corolla, driven by hargrove, head on. The truck then flipped catching fire. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.,A video camera from officer currie's patrol car captured the entire rescue and copys may be obtained at the baytown police department, 3200 north main, baytown, tx.,OFFICERS REPORT,On the morning of Wednesday, November 6, 2002, 2:34am, The Baytown 911 center received a call advising of a major traffic accident in the 300 block Of Massey Tompkins Road, Baytown Texas. The call was given to Officer Marvin Currie at 2:34am and he arrived on the scene at 2:36am.,As Officer Currie approached the accident scene, he activated the video camera in his patrol car. He observed two vehicles had been involved in what appeared to be a head on collision. One of the vehicles, a pickup truck, was upside down in the roadway and was becoming fully engulfed in flames. A citizen at the scene told Officer Currie a person was still inside the vehicle and was yelling for help because he was trapped inside. Officer Currie obtained his fire extinguisher from his patrol unit and began to spray the truck in an attempt to knock down the flames. The flames decreased in intensity for a short time as he Currie crawled on the ground and attempted to break the back glass of the truck to get the trapped driver out.,Lieutenant Claud "Bubba" Deel arrived on scene, obtained his fire extinguisher and approached the burning vehicle. He used the fire extinguisher to keep the flames knocked down as Officer Currie continued to try and gain entry into the vehicle. As his fire extinguisher was depleted, he crawled onto the ground with Currie and assisted him in breaking the back window. As they gained entry to the inside of the truck, the flames began to overtake the vehicle again. Officer Currie crawled partially in the truck and tried to free the trapped driver. Smoke began to billow out of the truck and Currie and Deel were forced to retreat in an attempt to get fresh air.,Other Baytown Police Officers arrived on the scene and used their fire extinguishers. They had very little effect on the fire. Officer Currie again crawled onto the ground and partially into the truck. The driver was talking to him and yelling for him to get him out. The driver's head was caught between the headrest of the seat and the door and one of his legs was partially caught by the steering column. As the flames continued and smoke billowed out of the truck, Currie and Deel continued to try and free the trapped driver.,At 2:37 am, a fuel line ruptured and small explosion took place. The flames increased and caused some of the surrounding officers to retreat as Currie and Deel, with no regard for their own safety, continued to try and free the trapped driver.,At 2:38 am, they were able to get the driver free and pull him from the vehicle as his pant legs caught on fire. The driver was pulled to safety. Only 15 seconds later, the truck was completely engulfed in flames including the passenger compartment. The driver, Charles Jerry Parnell Jr., 35, of Baytown was transported to Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston Texas where he is currently being treated and is expected to survive.,Officer Currie was transported to a local hospital by ambulance where he was treated for minor cuts and abrasions and smoke inhalation. Lt. Deel was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.,Officer Currie and Lieutenant Deel saved the life of another with no regard for their own safety. They continued to work to rescue Mr. Parnell even though, at any time, they could have given the ultimate sacrifice, their own life, to save another.,Officer Currie has been with the Baytown Police Department since August 10, 1981. He has served as a Detective in the Investigations Bureau and with the Traffic Safety and License and Weight unit. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division.,Officer Currie is certified as an Accident Reconstruction Specialist, D.O.T. Truck Inspector, Breath test operator and is trained in the use of Sign Language for the Deaf.,Lieutenant Deel has been with the Baytown Police Department since July 8, 1975. He started out as a dispatcher/jailer and then served as a Patrol Officer until February 1, 1988 when he was promoted to Sergeant. He continued to serve in the patrol division. He was promoted to Lieutenant on June 16, 1992. He served in Patrol and in the Support Services Division. Deel is a certified diver and a member of the Swat Team.,Sergeant Richard Whitaker,Baytown Police Department,

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