US, Los Angeles: Santa Clarita Deputies Save Man From Burning Car With Sound On Tape Part 2.

Los Angeles, United States - September 17, 2026 09/17/2026 01:30 pm GMT-0700 SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies are credited with saving a driver’s life after pulling him from a burning Tesla following a violent crash in Newhall early Monday morning. The crash occurred around 12:47 a.m. near Newhall Avenue and Sierra Highway, where the Tesla slammed into a tree and began catching fire with the driver trapped inside. Deputy Edgar Valdez said he was patrolling the area shortly before 1 a.m. when he heard a loud crash while driving westbound on Newhall Avenue beneath the 14 Freeway overpass. “I immediately saw smoke and debris flying across the street,” Valdez said. Valdez rushed toward the wreckage and found the Tesla beginning to catch fire. Airbags initially blocked his view into the vehicle, but he soon spotted the driver, who was covered in blood and unable to get himself out. Valdez called for additional deputies and firefighters before using his flashlight to begin smashing the Tesla’s windows in an attempt to reach the trapped driver. Deputy Nathan Marino heard the emergency radio traffic and rushed to his partner’s location. “I recognized immediately the emergency radio traffic that there was somebody in a car, they were trapped and it was on fire,” Marino said. “So I just tried to get there as quickly as I could.” The deputies worked together to break through the windows as the fire continued to grow. The driver was eventually able to climb across the interior of the wrecked Tesla, allowing Valdez and Marino to grab him and drag him through a broken window to safety. Within minutes of the rescue, Valdez said the vehicle was becoming fully engulfed in flames. “At the end of the day, that’s a human being,” Valdez said. “That human being has a family. … I was not going to let this person or persons burn alive right in front of me.” The driver was transported to a hospital following the crash. His current condition was not immediately available. Firefighters remained at the scene working to extinguish the Tesla fire, temporarily shutting down portions of Newhall Avenue. Neither deputy expected recognition for the rescue, saying helping someone in danger is simply part of the job. “Knowing that I was able to give this person a second chance at life feels good inside,” Valdez said. “I was not expecting, to be honest, any recognition. I just did, knowing what I had to do.” Marino echoed that sentiment. “That’s kind of what you’re signing up for when you become a deputy, is you want to help people,” Marino said. “When you have that opportunity to do it, you’re going to do it. You’re not going to think twice about it.” Transcript: [00:12:01;01 – 00:12:02;06] Edgar Valdez Cool name, right first and last? [00:12:02;06 – 00:12:02;15] Austin Dave Yeah. [00:12:04;06 – 00:12:04;23] Edgar Valdez Whenever you’re ready. [00:12:06;22 – 00:12:11;22] Edgar Valdez My name is Edgar Valdez, E-D-G-A-R, Valdez, D-A-L-D-E-Z. [00:12:11;22 – 00:12:18;28] Nathan Marino Alrighty, and what’s your name? My name’s Nathaniel Greeno, N-A-T-H-A-N, I-E-L, N-A-R, I-N-O. Okay. [00:12:18;28 – 00:12:24;09] Austin Dave Can you walk Deputy Pucar through the moment you realized something wasn’t quite working? [00:12:25;14 – 00:12:32;05] Edgar Valdez Yes, so on Monday, September 14th at approximately 1 a.m., I was patrolling the city of Newhall. [00:12:33;06 – 00:12:52;26] Edgar Valdez I was by Newhall Avenue, Sierra Highway, I had just finished patrolling the local park. On my way while driving westbound on Newhall Avenue under the 14th Street overpass, I heard a loud crash. I immediately saw smoke and debris flying across the street. I immediately went to that area and I observed that Tesla had crashed into the street. [00:12:54;02 – 00:13:14;17] Edgar Valdez Immediately, I noticed the car starting to catch fire. I approached the vehicle, could not see the nobody inside due to the airbags. A few moments later, the driver, I saw the driver, he was covered in blood. I asked the driver to try your best to get out of the car, the car’s on fire, and when she stated he couldn’t. I immediately called for assistance for the units to come to my location in the fire department. [00:13:15;27 – 00:13:19;20] Edgar Valdez With the solicitation, I began shattering the windows. I first shattered the passenger window. [00:13:20;24 – 00:13:48;19] Edgar Valdez However, due to him saying I can’t, I was under the pressure. He was trapped somewhere in the fire. I immediately went around the car, shattered the driver window and the rear driver window. As I’m shattered the window, my partner, Deputy Marino, arrived and we began to shatter. We began to take him from the rear seat, I’m sorry. At that moment, by the grace of God, he was able to climb over the passenger seat. I saw his head, we immediately grabbed