WSP: 'Heroic' TSA agents saved man, woman from burning car
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Three Transportation Security Administration agents are being called heroes for rescuing a man and woman from a crashed car just as it was erupting into flames Saturday on Interstate 5.
The Washington State Patrol says witnesses who were interviewed after the crash told troopers how the three agents risked their own lives to save the two occupants of the car after it crashed in the freeway median near South 304th Street in the early morning darkness.
The drama began Saturday at about 4:05 a.m. when the car, a 2008 BMW being driven by a 21-year-old soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, veered off southbound I-5 and onto the median, where it slammed into a concrete utility box and sign post.
Almost immediately, the car caught fire, with the driver and his injured 29-year-old female passenger still inside.
The three TSA agents happened to be driving by at the same time on their way to work when they saw the crash. They pulled over and ran to the burning car.
Two of the agents risked their lives as they approached the vehicle to free the two occupants and move them to safety while the other agent called 911 to get help coming.
No sooner had they pulled the man and woman free than the BMW became fully engulfed in flames, setting the surrounding grass on fire.
The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of internal injuries.
The driver was arrested for vehicular assault after treatment at St. Francis Medical Center.
WSP is working to determine exactly what caused the crash but troopers say speed and alcohol may have played a role.
The Washington State Patrol says witnesses who were interviewed after the crash told troopers how the three agents risked their own lives to save the two occupants of the car after it crashed in the freeway median near South 304th Street in the early morning darkness.
The drama began Saturday at about 4:05 a.m. when the car, a 2008 BMW being driven by a 21-year-old soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, veered off southbound I-5 and onto the median, where it slammed into a concrete utility box and sign post.
Almost immediately, the car caught fire, with the driver and his injured 29-year-old female passenger still inside.
The three TSA agents happened to be driving by at the same time on their way to work when they saw the crash. They pulled over and ran to the burning car.
Two of the agents risked their lives as they approached the vehicle to free the two occupants and move them to safety while the other agent called 911 to get help coming.
No sooner had they pulled the man and woman free than the BMW became fully engulfed in flames, setting the surrounding grass on fire.
The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of internal injuries.
The driver was arrested for vehicular assault after treatment at St. Francis Medical Center.
WSP is working to determine exactly what caused the crash but troopers say speed and alcohol may have played a role.
The constant effort to make "heroes" out of people who routinely carry out activities that would have anyone else arrested for pedophilia, sexual assault, and stalking (peeping tom) is just revolting. Yes, I'm glad that people who were acting as private citizens in a place totally outside their workplace helped another private citizen in need.  But to include their employment status and headline TSA - as if that anything to do with their good samaritan activity - is sickening. TSA should be abolished and replaced by behavior-driven screening conducted by the airports. TSA has nothing to do with a private citizen helping another private citizen on a public highway